title: The prevalence and correlates of symptom distress and quality of life in Chinese oesophageal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical oesophagectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study was designed to describe the symptom distress and quality of life (QoL) in Chinese oesophageal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical oesophagectomy and to identify the factors that influenced symptom distress and the relationship between symptom distress and QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 102 oesophageal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical oesophagectomy. The patients completed the Chinese versions of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI, an instrument that measures symptom distress), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-General (FACT-G, an instrument that measures QoL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The symptoms and symptom interference scores of the patients in the current research were 3.62 (SD 1.66) and 2.94 (SD 1.76), respectively. Occupation after illness, anxiety, types of surgery, whether chemotherapy was on schedule and confrontation coping strategies were factors that influenced symptom distress. There was a negative relationship between symptom distress and QoL scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oesophageal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy suffer many limitations due to symptom distress and disruptions in their QoL. Oesophageal cancer patients should be assessed regularly and should be supported on an ongoing basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 74 Zhongshan Road 2, 510080 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jun-E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mei-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Zhu
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No.651, Dongfeng Road East, 510060 Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chao-Nan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 74 Zhongshan Road 2, 510080 Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: zhmfen@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Mei-Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; Chinese; Coping strategies; Depression; Oesophageal cancer; Quality of life; Symptom distress