A qualitative exploration of a respiratory distress symptom cluster in lung cancer: cough, breathlessness and fatigue.
There is a growing awareness that symptoms frequently co-occur in 'symptom clusters' and that understanding these clusters may improve the management of unrelieved symptoms in patients. In-depth longitudinal exploration of lung cancer patients' symptom experiences is used to examine patient symptom experiences and distress across the disease trajectory of lung cancer.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and their primary caregivers at four time points: at the beginning of treatment and then subsequently at three, six, and twelve months. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed in the data analysis.


RESULTS
Findings indicate that a cluster of interacting respiratory symptoms play a central role in patients' symptom experiences within the lung cancer population. The interviews also suggest that symptoms such as cough which are under-represented in research within this population may play an important role in patients' symptom experiences.


CONCLUSIONS
Longitudinal qualitative investigation offers a valuable method for improving our understanding of patients' experiences of lung cancer and for identifying potential opportunities to improve patient quality of life.
Molassiotis
A
A
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, University of Manchester, University Place, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. alex.molassiotis@manchester.ac.uk
Lowe
M
M
Blackhall
F
F
Lorigan
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged