title: Symptom management tasks and behaviors related to chemotherapy in Taiwanese outpatients with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are many challenges that patients face when dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the key tasks and behaviors that contribute to symptom management and the difficulties relating to self-care in the context of chemotherapy in Taiwanese outpatients with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study included a purposive sample of 17 women with breast cancer, aged 30-64 years, and who had undergone chemotherapy. Data were collected via face-to-face semi-structured tape-recorded interviews. Qualitative content analysis was performed for the identified themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four main categories of tasks were identified that reflected the patient's experience with the behaviors required for chemotherapy symptom management. These task domains included communicating chemotherapy-related concerns, managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances, and acquiring relevant resources. In particular, the results indicated many challenges with behaviors related to self-management under these tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systematic information regarding symptoms relating to chemotherapy and self-management strategies should be put into practice at the beginning of chemotherapy and following assessment, in addition to the individual support of patients during their treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6 West Section Jiapu Road, Puzi City, Chiayi 613, Taiwan. Electronic address: choya@adm.cgmh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Chiu-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: shuyuan@ntunhs.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shu-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Dayeh University, 168 University Road, Dacun, Changhua 51591, Taiwan. Electronic address: sltsay@mail.dyu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shiow-Luan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: tsaejyy@ntunhs.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tsae-Jyy
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: sufen@ntunhs.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Su-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Breast cancer; Chemotherapy; Side effects; Symptom management