Symptom characteristics and clustering in children and adolescents undergoing or being off cancer chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of symptoms, their characteristics and distress and to define symptom clusters occurring among children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy or having completed their treatment.
METHODS: Data were collected using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale in patients receiving chemotherapy and those who had completed it. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researchers, whilst information over the disease status and treatment regimens was obtained from medical records. Cluster analysis techniques were used to identify symptom clusters.
RESULTS: The most common symptoms were lack of appetite, feeling nervous and lack of energy in children/adolescents who were receiving chemotherapy. Feeling nervous, feeling sad and lack of energy were the most common symptoms in children/adolescents who had completed chemotherapy. The most distressing symptoms were nausea, hair loss and vomiting in patients aged 10-18 years, being on treatment. Five symptom clusters were identified in children and adolescents who were both undergoing or being off chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION: Children/adolescents receiving chemotherapy experience multiple symptoms that persist over time. Symptom distress is relatively higher among children/ adolescents undergoing chemotherapy. Knowledge from this study can provide a starting point to investigate the stability of symptom clusters in different age groups and over various periods of time.