Couples symptom burden in oncology care: Perception of self and the other.

Authors

null

Gabriel Lopez

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Gabriel Lopez , Kathrin Milbury , Yisheng Li , Minxing Chen , Casey Dutton , Yousra Hashmi , Eduardo Bruera , Lorenzo Cohen

Organizations

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Funding

Other Foundation

Background: Cancer survivors and their caregivers have symptoms that wax and wane over time and are interrelated. We report on the results of a communication survey exploring symptom burden in couples presenting for care in an integrative oncology (IO) clinic. Methods: Couples were approached for participation while waiting for an IO service (Physician Consultation, Massage, Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, Nutrition). 50 patients and their partner completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS; 0-10, 10 worst). Patient and partner each completed two ESAS forms: one for themselves and one for their perception of the other’s symptoms. Each also completed a Global Health scale (PROMIS 10). ESAS distress subscales analyzed included Psychological (PSS) and Physical (PHS). Paired t-tests were used to examine all measures. Results: Patients (58% female) had most frequent cancer diagnoses of breast (22%) and gastrointestinal (18%). Patients rated their own physical symptoms of Fatigue (p = 0.002), Nausea (p < 0.001), Drowsiness (p = 0.032), Appetite (p = 0.008), and Shortness of Breath (p = 0.001) significantly higher than their partner’s rating of their symptoms. Patient self-rating for psychosocial symptoms of anxiety and depression was not significantly different from partner rating of patient symptoms. Partners were more accurate rating psychological symptoms (ESAS PSS, patient 3.89 vs partner 3.72, p = 0.836) and less accurate interpreting physical symptoms (ESAS PHS, patient 16.43 vs partner 9.94, p < 0.001). Except for Sleep, Financial Distress, and Spiritual Pain, partners rated all their own symptoms significantly lower compared to patient’s rating of them (all p’s < 0.001). Patients reported significantly lower global health (36.9 vs 42.9, p < 0.001) and physical health (16.6 vs 20.2, p < 0.001); no differences were observed for mental health for patients vs caregivers (14.2 vs 15.12, p = 0.1). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that partners may better perceive psychological stressors expressed by patients but may be less sensitive to physical symptoms. Interventions aimed at assisting caregivers in better understanding patient physical symptom burden are warranted.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2017 Cancer Survivorship Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Late- and Long-term Effects/Comorbidities, Psychosocial Issues, and Recurrence and Secondary Malignancies

Track

Late- and Long-term Effects/Comorbidities,Psychosocial Issues,Recurrence and Secondary Malignancies

Sub Track

Quality-of-Life Issues

Citation

J Clin Oncol 35, 2017 (suppl 5S; abstr 213)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2017.35.5_suppl.213

Abstract #

213

Poster Bd #

J8

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

First Author: Emily Castellanos

First Author: Martha Raymond

First Author: Belle Hadewijch de Rooij

First Author: Gabriel Lopez