title: Symptom Assessment for Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Scheduled for Chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and examined the symptom-associated characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The symptoms of 122 patients with NSCLC scheduled for chemotherapy before starting treatment were surveyed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prevalent symptoms were coughing (EORTC score 41.7), dyspnea (33.9), fatigue (31.9), insomnia (30.3) and pain (21.8). The mean EORTC score for global QoL was 56.9 (SD=23.5). Physical, cognitive and emotional functioning, insomnia, diarrhea, and dyspnea had a significant influence on the HRQOL (p<0.05). ESAS assessment correlated with these results and thus was an easy-to-use tool for symptom assessment (correlation coefficient range=0.546-0.865, p<0.0001 for all symptoms).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with advanced NSCLC suffer from multiple symptoms influencing HRQOL. ESAS provides a symptom assessment tool that is as reliable as but simpler to use than the EORTC questionnaire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland marber@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silvoniemi
authors.affiliation: Finnish Lung Health Association (Filha ry), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vasankari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Eliisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Löyttyniemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mauno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valtonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salminen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063189:Symptom Assessment
keywords: EORTC questionnaire; ESAS; Non-small cell lung cancer; dyspnea; quality of life; symptom management