The Influence of Unpleasant Symptoms on Functional Status of Advanced Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Keywords:
Functional status, Patients with Advanced Cancer, Chemotherapy, Unpleasant SymptomAbstract
Cancer is a major health problem in Thailand. The severity of the disease is increasing,especially in patients with advanced cancer. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment
option for patients with advanced cancer. Patients with advanced cancer often experience
several unpleasant symptoms both from disease and treatment-related side effects, affecting
reduced functional status. Thus, unpleasant symptom factors influencing the functional status of
advanced cancer patients receiving chemotherapy would promote their functional status.
This was descriptive correlational research. This research aimed to investigate the
influence of unpleasant symptoms on the functional status of advanced cancer patients receiving
chemotherapy. The sample included 500 advanced cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at
the department of chemotherapy unit o fa center hospital in the lower northern region of Thailand
from March 2020 to October 2021. Data were collected using questionnaires on demographic
characteristics, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, and the Inventory Functional Status-CA.
Descriptive statistics by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and predictive testing
by multiple regression were used for data analysis. The results revealed that the unpleasant
symptoms influencing the functional status of advanced cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
statistically significant at the .05 level were impaired well-being (Beta = -.233), tiredness or
fatigue (Beta = -.228), pain (Beta = -.210), and nausea (Beta = -.133), which were explained 22.30%
of the variance of functional status. From the results of this study, the data can be used for
developinga program to manage these unpleasant symptoms to improve the functional status of
advanced cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
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