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The Experience of Symptoms and Information Needs of Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

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Abstract

The aim was to determine the symptoms and information needs of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). The study population consisted of 345 RT patients accrued over 6 months. Patients' needs for information, sources of information, levels of satisfaction with information, symptoms and demographic factors were assessed by questionnaire and personal interview. Chi-square tests were used to test the correlation between patient variables and information needs/experiences. Most patients (80.9%) experienced RT side effects—fatigue, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite were the most frequent. More than half of the patients had not received information about RT; however, patients (83.2%) who had problems during the treatment wanted to have information (P < 0.05). The majority of the patients receiving information identified doctors as the primary source. The patients' prioritized needs for information were all the aspects of their diagnosis and treatment and side effects of RT. Overall, the results indicate that most patients require information about their treatment and also experienced a variety of symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all of the patients who gave their time generously and consented to an interview.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Erciyes University Halil Bayraktar Health Services Vocational College, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey

    Gülsüm Nihal Güleser

  2. Erciyes University Faculty of Health Science, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey

    Sultan Taşci

  3. Medical Faculty, Department of Radiation Oncology, Erciyes University,Talas Campus, 38020, Kayseri, Turkey

    Bünyamin Kaplan

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  1. Gülsüm Nihal Güleser
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  2. Sultan Taşci
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  3. Bünyamin Kaplan
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Correspondence to Gülsüm Nihal Güleser.

Additional information

This paper presentation at the 8th National Congress of Internal Medicine (13–17 September 2006, Antalya, Turkey)

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Güleser, G.N., Taşci, S. & Kaplan, B. The Experience of Symptoms and Information Needs of Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy. J Canc Educ 27, 46–53 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0254-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0254-7

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