Symptom Perception, Interference with Daily Life, and Symptom Management Strategies among Women with Ovarian Cancer
Keywords:
Ovarian cancer, Chemotherapy, Symptoms, Symptom management, Interference with daily lifeAbstract
Chemotherapy induces symptoms that interfere with the daily lives of women with ovarian cancer. Effective symptom management can reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life. This descriptive study aimed to examine symptom perception, symptom severity, interference with daily life, symptom management strategies, and their effectiveness, based on the Symptom Management Model proposed by Dodd et al. (2001). The participants consisted of 192 women with ovarian cancer receiving chemotherapy from three tertiary hospitals. They were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, including the Symptom Perception Questionnaire, the Daily Life Interference Questionnaire, and the Symptom Management Strategies Questionnaire. The content validity of these instruments was 0.93, 1.00, and 0.95, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the Symptom Perception Questionnaire (symptom severity), the Daily Life Interference Questionnaire, the Symptom Management Strategies and the Effectiveness) were .80, .90, .86, and .85, respectively. The Kuder–Richardson-21 reliability coefficient for the Symptom Perception Questionnaire was .85. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The results showed that the five most commonly reported symptoms were hair loss, fatigue, numbness of the hands and feet, insomnia, and loss of appetite. Hair loss was reported as the most severe symptom, whereas numbness of the hands and feet, insomnia, constipation, and frequent urination were reported at a moderate level of severity. Interference with daily life resulting from chemotherapy was at a low level. Symptom management strategies that were easy to implement tended to be used consistently and were reported to be highly effective, including cutting hair short and shaving the hair. In contrast, strategies requiring ongoing adherence were used inconsistently despite being highly effective, including wearing a hat, wig, or headscarf; seeking medical consultation; taking medications such as laxatives or sleeping pills; avoiding caffeinated beverages; and talking with people around them to express their feelings. These findings indicate that nurses and healthcare professionals can apply this information to develop guidelines for symptom assessment, promote symptom management among women with ovarian cancer receiving chemotherapy on a continuous basis, thereby reducing the impact on daily life and enhancing patients’ quality of life.
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