2Department of Medical Oncology Unit, Ege University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, İzmir
3Ege University Faculty of Nursing, İzmir OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study is to determine the symptom distributions of patients with advanced cancer as well as the factors affecting these symptoms.
METHODS
As a descriptive study, it was carried out in the palliative
care and medical oncology clinics of a University located
in Izmir between 2011–2012 and 164 cancer patients. Research
data were obtained by using Edmonton Symptom
Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Karnofsky Performance
Scale (KPS).
RESULTS
52.4% of the patients participating in the research were
male. Total score of ESAS scale was 45.58±12.41. A
relationship was found between the symptoms of pain
and drowsiness and performance levels of the patients
(p<0.05). It was determined that total score of ESAS scale
was not affected by age, sex, education level and performance
level (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
It was determined that total symptom levels of patients were
high, they experienced the pain and fatigue symptoms intensively.