Nurses' and Cancer Patients' Perceptions of Symptom Distress-A replication Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the congruence between hospitalized cancer patients' self-assessments of symptom distress and nurses' assessments of symptom distress in those patients. Using a comparative descriptive design, a convenience sample of 32 nurse-patient pairs completed the modified Symptom Distress Scale. A major finding was the difference between the nurse and patient groups concerning perceptions of symptom distress from mood. Nurses generally rated mood as the most frequent contributor to higher levels of symptom distress, in marked contrast to patients' self-assessments. Patients and nurses also differed in their perceptions of pain, although to a lesser degree than with mood. Nurses' assessments of patients' moods and pain may be influenced by assumptions related to the cancer diagnosis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA243356

Entities

People

  • Rhonda L. Davis

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemotherapy
  • Data Analysis
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Medical Personnel
  • Pain
  • Patient Care
  • Regression Analysis
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Therapy

Fields of Study

  • Medicine
  • Psychology

Readers

  • Medical or Health Care Field.
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.