title: Symptom Characteristics Among Hospitalized Children and Adolescents With Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies addressing physical and psychosocial symptoms among hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer are limited. Understanding commonly occurring symptoms and their associated characteristics across the hospitalization is needed to guide symptom management strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study described the symptom experience of hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer. The study explored the frequencies of individual symptoms and the severity, duration, and associated distress of symptoms during the course of the hospitalization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale 7-12 during each 12-hour shift of the 3-day/3-night data collection period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 50 children and adolescents (mean age, 12.6 years; range, 7.1-18.6 years) receiving inpatient chemotherapy. Participants reported a mean of 2.75 symptoms at each assessment point and a mean of 5.42 different symptoms during their hospitalization. Mixed model analyses identified a significant fixed effect for study day, with participants reporting fewer symptoms (F = 8.4, P < .01), less symptom severity (F = 5.81, P < .01), and shorter duration (F = 6.67, P < .01) on day 3 relative to days 1 and 2. A fixed effect for study day was not present for symptom distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and adolescents receiving inpatient chemotherapy experience multiple physical and psychosocial symptoms of moderate or greater severity and duration throughout the course of their hospitalization. Symptoms of greatest severity may not be those that are most distressing to the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ongoing assessment that incorporates the multidimensional nature of symptoms is needed. Prioritizing interventions for symptoms that are most distressing to the patient may support a more meaningful, patient-centric approach to care.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: College of Nursing (Dr Linder and Ms Al-Qaaydeh) and Department of Anesthesiology (Dr Donaldson) University of Utah; and Cancer, Blood, and Transplant Service, Primary Children's Hospital (Dr Linder), Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Lauri A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: Sharifa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Qaaydeh
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents