title: Symptom clusters and quality of life in China patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the symptom clusters and quality of life in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was completed with 183 patients from three public hospitals in Xi'an, China. Patients completed a demographic questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Cancer (FACT-L) and the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-C). Factor analysis was used to identify symptom clusters based on the severity of patients' symptom experiences. The resulting clusters were correlated with quality-of-life measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The QOL scores of lung cancer patients on the functioning subscale were the lowest (9.70±5.30), while those of the family subscale were the highest (19.28±3.24). Three symptom clusters were identified: gastrointestinal, emotional and fatigue-related symptoms. There was a negative relationship between the symptom clusters and multiple dimensions of quality of life (r -0.178 ∼-0.805, p< 0. 05). Females, especially those women with low education level /chronic diseases, were experienced greater symptom distress than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clusters had a negative relationship with QOL. Identifying symptom clusters helped clarify possible inter-relationships which may lead to the establishment of more effective symptom management interventions for patients with lung cancer in order to improve the quality of life.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of the Forth Military Medical University.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of the Forth Military Medical University.
authors.forename: Jufang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: factor analysis; lung cancer; quality of life; symptom clusters; symptom management