Symptom cluster and functi̇onal status i̇n lymphoma pati̇ents

The aims of this study were to assess the symptom cluster and functional status in lymphoma patients. This research was carried out on 109 patients diagnosed with lymphoma in the Hematology Clinic, Departmant of Hematology and Daily Chemotherapy Unit followed by treatment of Akdeniz University, between May, 2014 and June, 2014. Personal information forms, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) were used as the data tools. All data were collected by authors during face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed by using SPSS with 22.0 package program and frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, the difference between the two means test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance (anova), Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, Pearson Correlation Test, Cronbach's alpha internal consistency test and cluster analysis were used. It is found that 73.4% had Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 58.7% were male and the average age of those participating in the research is 49.43±17.021. It was seen that the most common psychological symptoms in patients participating in the MSAS Scale were sleep disturbance, feeling sad and worring; physical symptoms were pain, nausea and dry mouth and they stated that these symptoms were impacted them a lot. MSAS sub-dimensions, when the relation with working situations were examined, it was statistically significant (p<0.05). FACT-Lym sub-dimensions, when the relation with the total number of cycles, time of diagnosis, age, education level, alcohol consumption, metastasis status, the presence of people who support dependents visit to the presence of people with care were examined, they were statistically significant (p<0.05). The results of the analysis between the two scales were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Three main clusters were determined as a result of cluster analysis. Gastrointestinal symptoms were collected in frequency and severity subscales more intense in the first set. In the distress sub-dimensions of physical and psychological symptoms were present distribution regularly. In line with the results obtained from the research, the incidence of lymphoma patients experience symptoms, severity and difficulty increases, multiple physical and psychological symptoms of lymphoma patients according to functional status and symptoms worsened cluster were found to live together. Key Words: Lymphoma, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym), Symptom Cluster