Assessment of the symptoms and care needs of patients who underwent hematopoetic stem cell transplantation

2.SUMMARYThe aim of the study was to assess the symptoms and care needs of patients underwent hematopoetic stem cell transplantation. The study adopted a descriptive design. The study sample comprised of 66 patients who were discharged after hematopoetic stem cell transplantation. The study was conducted at a private hospital located in Istanbul. Data were collected using Patient Information Questionnaire and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, median, frequency, percentage) and non-parametric tests. More than half (62.1%) of the sample was male, 84.8% were married and 43.9% were primary school graduates. Patients (84%) stated that there was a family member/someone who was responsible of his/her care. The patients underwent hematopoetic stem cell transplantation due to Multiple Myeloma (36.4%), Hodgkin's Lymphoma (24.2%), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (15.2%) and acute myeloid leukemia (12.1%). More than 90 percent (93.9%) stated that they were given sufficient knowledge about disease, treatment and side effects. Nearly all sample (98.5%) reported to received information about Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation or Allogenic stem cell transplantation process and life after transplantation. Most of the patients (83.3%) did not report a hospitalization after discharge after transplantation. Patients who were hospitalized (16.7%) after hematopoetic stem cell transplantation were hospitalized due to infection (3%) and Graft-Versus-Host Disease, high fever, diarrhea, ecchymosis, bruising or swelling (1.5%). The common three symptoms experienced by patients were fatigue, changes or lose taste, unhappiness, the most severe and disturbing symptoms were sexual problems, difficulty in sleeping and dyspnea. Study results revealed that the patients who underwent hematopoetic stem cell transplantation experience severe symptoms after discharge and these patients needed to be supported and educated for the symptom management.Key words: Hematopoetic stem cell transplantation, symptom, care need, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale