Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Research Strategies and Instruments
A New Instrument to Measure Symptom Distress in Women with Breast Cancer
Marcia M. Boehmke, DNS, RN, ANPc, Nursing, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
Learning Objective #1: The learner will be able to maore accurately identify women experiencing symptom distress while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Learning Objective #2: The learner will be able to identify women at risk for developing symptom distress and recommend intervention.
Background: There exists an insufficient amount of research about the symptoms, symptom distress and the trajectory once adjuvant treatment for breast cancer is complete.  Though women get on with living after therapy, some still experience physical symptoms and emotional concerns.  The life long consequences of breast cancer treatment must be recognized, addressed and managed if survivors are to enjoy the lives they will go on to live. 
Specific Aims: (1) Identify the full scope of symptoms and symptom distress in women with breast cancer post adjuvant treatment; (2) Develop a comprehensive instrument to measure symptoms and symptom distress in these women. 
Design: This cross-sectional, correlational study was guided by the UCSF Symptom Management Conceptual Model.
Sample: 50 women (25 one to six months after therapy; 25 seven to twelve months after therapy) were recruited for this study and given a battery of instruments including: Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Checklist, the McCorkle Symptom Distress Scale, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. 
Analysis: Descriptive statistics analyzed demographic and clinical information.  Rank/ordering identified the most prominent/persistent symptoms causing women distress. 
Findings: Five constructs were identified: physical symptoms, menopausal symptoms, cognitive impairment, body image changes, and uncertainty about the future.  Approximately four questions will comprise each construct for a total of 20 scored items.
Conclusions: No current instrument incorporates all the symptomatology and/or concerns expressed by women in this study as causing distress.  The new instrument will provide healthcare works with a more accurate assessment of symptom distress experienced by women after diagnosis and treatment completion.
Implications: The new instrument will allow for a more precise assessment of the distress experienced by women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.  Earlier and a more accurate identification of symptoms will lead to appropriate interventions.   

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