Care Needs and Symptoms Burden of Breast Cancer Patients in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Omar Shamieh (), Ghadeer Alarjeh, Houshen Li, Mahmoud Abu Naser, Fadi Abu Farsakh, Rashid Abdel-Razeq, Adib Edilbi, Ruba Al-Ani, Richard Harding and Ping Guo
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Omar Shamieh: Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, 202 Queen Rania Al Abdulla St., Amman 11941, Jordan
Ghadeer Alarjeh: Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, 202 Queen Rania Al Abdulla St., Amman 11941, Jordan
Houshen Li: Cicely Saunders Institute, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King’s College London, London SE5 9PJ, UK
Mahmoud Abu Naser: Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, 202 Queen Rania Al Abdulla St., Amman 11941, Jordan
Fadi Abu Farsakh: Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, 202 Queen Rania Al Abdulla St., Amman 11941, Jordan
Rashid Abdel-Razeq: Department of Medicine, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman 11941, Jordan
Adib Edilbi: Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, 202 Queen Rania Al Abdulla St., Amman 11941, Jordan
Ruba Al-Ani: Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, 202 Queen Rania Al Abdulla St., Amman 11941, Jordan
Richard Harding: Cicely Saunders Institute, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King’s College London, London SE5 9PJ, UK
Ping Guo: Cicely Saunders Institute, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King’s College London, London SE5 9PJ, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-10

Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in Jordan. Rigorous needs assessment for breast cancer patients can prioritize both cancer care and palliative care to propose the appropriate services effectively. We conducted a cross-sectional study of breast cancer patients in a cancer center in Jordan. We assessed symptom burden, comorbidities, and performance using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the Australia-modified Karnofsky performance scale (AKPS). Descriptive analysis and regression models to predict the highest symptom burden were used. A total of 233 participants were enrolled: curative vs. palliative intent groups (147 (63%) vs. 86 (37%) patients), respectively. Tiredness was the most reported symptom in 189 patients (81%), while nausea was the least in 61 patients (26.2%). A relationship between the AKPS score and total ESAS was seen (correlation coefficient of −0.487; p < 0.0001). The prevalence of anxiety ( p = 0.014), lack of appetite ( p = 0.002), poor well-being ( p < 0.001), and sleep disorder ( p = 0.035) was higher in the palliative care intent group than in the curative one. We identified unmet needs in breast cancer patients. Both groups showed a prevalence of distressing symptoms suggesting that even those with non-palliative intent have high needs and should receive integrated palliative care.

Keywords: breast cancer; neoplasm; palliative care; curative; symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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