Evaluation of dyspnea and sleep quality in patients with lung cancer

Background and Aim: The present descriptive and cross-sectional study was planned to assess dyspnea and sleep quality among patients with lung cancer. Material and Methods: The study was conducted between October 2023 and March 2024 with 205 patients receiving treatment at the Medical Oncology Clinic of a university hospital. Data were collected using a Personal and Disease-Related Characteristics Information Form, the Cancer Dyspnea Scale (CDS), and the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). In the analysis of the study findings, descriptive statistical methods (such as frequency, percentage, and mean), independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation test, and multivariate linear regression analysis were employed. The results were evaluated within a 95% confidence interval, with statistical significance considered at a level of p<0.05 (two-tailed). Results: It was determined that the mean age of the patients was 61.42 ± 9.68 years, % 60.5 of them were male, and 64.4% had quit smoking. The patients' average daily sleep duration was found to be 6.19 ± 1.39 hours. The mean total score on the Cancer Dyspnea Scale (CDS) among the patients was 15.24 ± 8.40, indicating a low level. The mean total score on the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) among the patients was 61.22 ± 16.87, indicating a moderate level of sleep quality. It was determined that the patients' ECOG performance scores worsened and as the time since diagnosis lengthened, sleep quality declined; however as daily sleep duration increased, sleep quality improved. Patients whose income did not meet their expenses and those who used tobacco and alcohol had higher levels of dyspnea. The patients' dyspnea levels were higher among patients whose ECOG performance scores were worse and among those who had been diagnosed with the disease for one year or more. Patients who perceived their sleep as adequate and regular had lower levels of dyspnea. Increased dyspnea, poor ECOG performance, and irregular sleep were identified as independent variables associated with lower sleep quality, ehile longer daily sleep duraiton was associated with higher sleep quality. Conclusion: The study determined that the dyspnea levels of patients with lung cancer were generally low, while their sleep quality was at a moderate level. It was found that as the severity of dyspnea increased, the level of discomfort associated with sleep quality also increased. Additionally, factors such as patients' performance status, duration since diagnosis, sleep duration, smoking, and alcohol consumption were identified as variables influencing dyspnea and sleep quality. Based on these findings, it is recommended that nurses evaluate dyspnea severity and sleep quality by taking into account the disease- and diagnosis-related characteristics of lung cancer patients, and plan appropriate nursing interventions accordingly.