Symptom assessment in cancer patients using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale

Abstract

Objective: Cancer is a chronic disease characterized by the unregulated proliferation and abnormal spread of cells. Symptoms that occur after chemotherapy treatment, which is the most commonly used treatment in cancer, negatively affect morbidity, effectiveness of treatment and quality of life. This study aimed to determine symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS)

Material and Methods: A total of 273 cancer patients who applied to Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital emergency department as outpatients and were hospitalized in the internal medicine department were included in the study between 5/1/2014 and 6/4/2014. The study was conducted prospectively. Of the 273 participants, 41.3% were female (N = 112) and 58.7% were male (N = 159). The mean age of the participants was 62.46 ± 12.913 years (range, 32-92 years). Participants were divided into 6 groups based on diagnosis: Lung cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, cancers of the reproductive system, hematologic cancers, cancers of the urinary system and others. Each participant used the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) containing 32 symptoms to rate whether they had experienced each symptom during the past week. Of these 32 items, 24 provide information on the intensity and frequency of symptoms, while 8 provide information on severity and distress.

Results: The most common types of symptoms based on the Memorial Symptom Rating Scale were lack of energy (72.9%), pain (71.1%) and difficulty concentrating (60.8%), while the least common symptoms were feeling “I don’t look like myself” (4.4%), swelling of arms and legs and changes in skin (7.3%) and constipation (8.4%).  

Conclusion: Cancer patients have a lower quality of life due to the side effects of the treatments they receive or the impact of the cancer itself. The most common symptoms in the patients screened in this study were lack of energy and pain. In light of these data, determining the factors affecting the quality of life in cancer patients may be guiding in determining the symptomatic treatment for these patients and facilitating patient care.