Jen-Shi Chen1,2, Fur-Hsing Wen3, Wen-Chi Chou1,2, Chia-Hsun Hsieh1,2, Wen-Cheng Chang1,2, Siew Tzuh Tang1,4,5. 1. 1 Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 2. 2 Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 3. 3 Department of International Business, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. 4 School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 5. 5 Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Abstract
Background: Terminally ill cancer patients' worsening symptom distress and functional impairment may signal disease deterioration, thus facilitating their accurate prognostic awareness (PA). However, the joint roles played by symptom distress and functional impairment in association with cancer patients' accurate PA remain unexplored. Methods: We used hierarchical generalized linear modeling to assess associations between our five identified worsening conjoint symptom-functional states and accurate PA in a convenience sample of 317 terminally ill cancer patients over their last six months. Results: The majority of our participants (70.1%-76.3%) had accurate PA in their last six months. This proportion did not increase as death approached but varied significantly by the five identified distinct symptom-functional states. Participants in the four worst symptom-functional states (moderate/profound symptom distress with mild/profound functional impairment) had a higher likelihood of accurate PA than those in the best state (mild symptom distress with high functioning). Participants with severe or profound symptom distress (states 3 and 5) had a substantially higher likelihood of accurate PA than those with moderate symptom distress (states 2 and 4). Conclusion/Clinical Implications: Terminally ill cancer patients' five distinct conjoint worsening symptom-functional states were differentially associated with their likelihood of accurate PA. Health care professionals should cultivate these patients' accurate PA when they are still free from severe symptom distress and functional impairment, effectively manage symptoms for those suffering from severe/profound symptom distress, and facilitate their psychological-spiritual adjustment to acknowledge their poor prognosis and the accompanying challenges of end-of-life care decisions to maximize quality of life and achieve a good death.
Background: Terminally ill cancerpatients' worsening symptom distress and functional impairment may signal disease deterioration, thus facilitating their accurate prognostic awareness (PA). However, the joint roles played by symptom distress and functional impairment in association with cancerpatients' accurate PA remain unexplored. Methods: We used hierarchical generalized linear modeling to assess associations between our five identified worsening conjoint symptom-functional states and accurate PA in a convenience sample of 317 terminally ill cancerpatients over their last six months. Results: The majority of our participants (70.1%-76.3%) had accurate PA in their last six months. This proportion did not increase as death approached but varied significantly by the five identified distinct symptom-functional states. Participants in the four worst symptom-functional states (moderate/profound symptom distress with mild/profound functional impairment) had a higher likelihood of accurate PA than those in the best state (mild symptom distress with high functioning). Participants with severe or profound symptom distress (states 3 and 5) had a substantially higher likelihood of accurate PA than those with moderate symptom distress (states 2 and 4). Conclusion/Clinical Implications: Terminally ill cancerpatients' five distinct conjoint worsening symptom-functional states were differentially associated with their likelihood of accurate PA. Health care professionals should cultivate these patients' accurate PA when they are still free from severe symptom distress and functional impairment, effectively manage symptoms for those suffering from severe/profound symptom distress, and facilitate their psychological-spiritual adjustment to acknowledge their poor prognosis and the accompanying challenges of end-of-life care decisions to maximize quality of life and achieve a good death.