Table 5 Symptom distress based on the Memorial Symptoms Assessment Scale
From: Symptom prevalence, severity, distress and management among patients with chronic diseases
Symptoms | N | Mode | Not at all | A little bit | Somewhat | Quite a bit | Very much |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | |||||||
Difficulty concentrating | 75 | 2 | 3 (4.0) | 24 (32.0) | 30 (40.0) | 16 (21.3) | 2 (2.7) |
Feeling nervous | 97 | 2 | 4 (4.1) | 29 (29.9) | 44 (45.4) | 17 (17.5) | 3 (3.1) |
Feeling sad | 86 | 2 | 2 (2.3) | 21 (24.4) | 32 (37.2) | 25 (29.1) | 6 (7.0) |
Worrying | 103 | 2 | 2 (1.9) | 30 (29.1) | 47 (45.6) | 19 (18.4) | 5 (4.9) |
“I don’t look like myself” | 73 | 1 | 8 (11.0) | 26 (35.6) | 22 (30.1) | 12 (16.4) | 5 (6.8) |
Lack of energy | 207 | 2 | 6 (2.9) | 15 (7.2) | 103 (49.8) | 69 (33.3) | 14 (6.8) |
Numbness/tingling in hands/feet | 181 | 2 | 4 (2.2) | 19 (10.5) | 85 (47.0) | 60 (33.1) | 13 (7.2) |
Dizziness | 99 | 2 | 16 (16.2) | 35 (35.4) | 37 (37.4) | 10 (10.1) | 1 (1.0) |
Pain | 195 | 3 | 6 (3.1) | 16 (8.2) | 72 (36.9) | 79 (40.5) | 22 (11.3) |
Difficulty sleeping | 167 | 3 | 3 (1.8) | 9 (5.4) | 42 (25.1) | 79 (47.3) | 34 (20.4) |
Dry mouth | 90 | 2 | 7 (7.8) | 20 (22.2) | 44 (48.9) | 17 (18.9) | 2 (2.2) |
Nausea | 60 | 2 | 3 (5.0) | 17 (28.3) | 26 (43.3) | 11 (18.3) | 3 (5.0) |
Vomiting | 27 | 2 | 0 (0.0) | 7 (25.9) | 12 (44.4) | 7 (25.9) | 1 (3.7) |
Change in the way food tastes | 18 | 1 | 3 (16.7) | 5 (27.8) | 3 (16.7) | 4 (22.2) | 3 (16.7) |
Lack of appetite | 98 | 2 | 2 (2.0) | 8 (8.2) | 53 (54.1) | 29 (29.6) | 6 (6.1) |
Weight loss | 14 | 1 | 3 (21.4) | 5 (35.7) | 1 (7.1) | 4 (28.6) | 1 (7.1) |
Difficulty swallowing | 16 | 2 | 1 (6.3) | 1 (6.3) | 8 (50.0) | 3 (18.8) | 3 (18.8) |
Cough | 129 | 2 | 10 (7.8) | 11 (8.5) | 48 (37.2) | 37 (28.7) | 23 (17.8) |
Shortness of breath | 156 | 3 | 2 (1.3) | 6 (3.8) | 42 (26.9) | 77 (49.4) | 29 (18.6) |
Swelling of arms/legs | 82 | 2 | 0 (0.0) | 13 (15.9) | 34 (41.5) | 30 (36.6) | 5 (6.1) |
Sweats | 12 | 1 | 2 (16.7) | 4 (33.3) | 4 (33.3) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) |
Itching | 86 | 2 | 4 (4.7) | 9 (10.5) | 43 (50.3) | 23 (26.7) | 7 (8.1) |
Mouth sores | 8 | 2 | 0.00 | 2 (25) | 3 (37.5) | 1 (12.5) | 2 (25.0) |
Hair loss | 44 | 2 | 5 (11.4) | 6 (13.6) | 17 (38.6) | 13 (29.5) | 3 (6.8) |
Changes in skin | 38 | 3 | 1 (2.6) | 8 (21.1) | 11 (28.9) | 14 (36.8) | 4 (10.5) |
Feeling bloated | 113 | 2 | 2 (1.8) | 14 (12.4) | 55 (48.7) | 37 (32.7) | 5 (4.4) |
Problems with urination | 79 | 2 | 1 (1.3) | 8 (10.1) | 33 (41.8) | 32 (40.5) | 5 (6.3) |
Diarrhoea | 14 | 2 | 0 (0.0) | 4 (28.6) | 6 (42.9) | 4 (28.6) | 0 (0.0) |
Constipation | 120 | 3 | 1 (0.8) | 9 (7.5) | 48 (40.0) | 53 (44.2) | 9 (7.5) |
Problems with sexual interest or activity | 23 | 4 | 1 (4.3) | 0 (0.0) | 7 (30.4) | 6 (26.1) | 9 (39.1) |