Dataset Information

Higher Levels of Stress Are Associated With a Significant Symptom Burden in Oncology Outpatients Receiving Chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Context

A cancer diagnosis and associated treatments, as well as the uncertainty of the disease course, are stressful experiences for most patients. However, little information is available on the relationship between stress and symptom burden.

Objectives

The study purpose was to evaluate for differences in the severity of fatigue, lack of energy, sleep disturbance, and cognitive function, among three groups of patients with distinct stress profiles.

Methods

Patients receiving chemotherapy (n = 957) completed measures of general, cancer-specific, and cumulative life stress and symptom inventories. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of patients with distinct stress profiles.