Evaluating the relationships between multiple symptoms; altered nutritional status, and their effects on the quality of life of patients diagnosed with cancer in Palestine: an explorative study

Abstract

Background Cancer is the second most fatal disease in the world, following cardiac diseases. Throughout the cancer trajectory, patients experience symptom clusters and malnutrition. Both affect the quality of life for these patients. Limited studies had focused on these issues in Palestine. Purpose This study aims to assess and evaluate the relationships between multiple symptoms, altered nutritional status, and their effects on the quality of life of patients diagnosed with cancer in Palestine. Methods An explorative cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from 120 patients with cancer. Results Fatigue, dry mouth, and pain were the most prevalent symptoms experienced by participants with mean scores of 5.5, 4.9, and 4.5 respectively. For the quality of life, general activity and work were the worst variables experienced by patients. More than half of the patients were malnourished (53%). Nutritional status was significantly correlated and predicted most of the symptoms and quality of life dimensions (P < 0.05). Conclusion The current study highlighted the importance of symptom clusters in cancer, quality of life, and nutritional status. It also focused on nutritional status as an essential factor and critical predictor that may affect and correlate with the worst symptom clusters and low quality of life. Implication Symptom clusters and malnutrition predict the poor quality of life among Palestinian oncology patients. Therefore, symptom clusters and nutritional status should be taken into consideration at an earlier stage in the nursing care plan, and in the oncology assessment guidelines in Palestine.