Symptom Management of Nasopharyngeal-carcinoma Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation Therapy in Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand

Symptom Management of Nasopharyngeal-carcinoma Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation Therapy in Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand by Nangnoi Muangkrawgam 1 , Angsuma Aphichato 2 , Naree Panthong 3 1 Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Faculty of Medicine; 2 Department of Administration of Nursing Education and Nursing Service, Faculty of Nursing; 3 Ear, Nose and Throat Ward, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand Abstract This descriptive study examined the symptom management of seventy-five (75) nasopharyngeal-carcinoma patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy at Songklanagarind Hospital, Southern Thailand . Using the framework of Dodd M. et al, the research tools comprised personal information, symptoms that interfered with patients’ daily lives, and their experiences dealing with the symptoms. The questionnaire was tested for content validity by three experts. Four groups of symptoms were found to interfere with patients’ daily lives: 1) mucositis of the oral cavity and oropharynx; all patients had sore throat, and 96% had sore mouth; 2) dysphagia; 93.3% had difficulty swallowing; 3) xerostomia; 92% reported decreased saliva/dry mouth; and 4) fatigue/anorexia; 26.7% reported fatigue/weakness. To manage their symptoms , subjects adjusted food and fluid intakes, used modern medical therapies , and increased relaxation . Most patients (81.3%) received information about how to deal with symptoms from nurses and doctors, while 71% received it from volunteers. 94.7% managed their symptoms themselves. The study found that most patients (85.3%) could relieve their symptoms by correct management. These findings suggest that the volunteer health-care project to assist these patients should be encouraged and supported in the longer term. (Thai Cancer J 2011;31:82-92.)