-
Study aim
-
Since one of the ways to improve the quality of life in cancer patients is to control the symptoms and complications caused by cancer, therefore, the investigation and management of these symptoms become very important. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of controlling the symptoms of cancer patients in palliative care on their quality of life.
-
Design
-
This research constitutes a pre-post interventional clinical trial to be conducted on a cohort of 90 individuals diagnosed with one type of cancer.
-
Settings and conduct
-
This study will be conducted in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. Patients referring to the oncologist who have annoying symptoms related to cancer will be referred to a palliative medicine specialist through a letter. Then, based on the severity of the annoying symptoms and the physical needs of the person, a symptom control program, specific to each patient, in the form of drug interventions and also Counseling sessions for psychology, spirituality, nutrition, etc. will be available to patients.
-
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
-
Inclusion criteria:
Having a definite cancer diagnosis with the opinion of an oncologist
Having a score of at least 4 in one of the annoying symptoms such as pain or other physical symptoms
The patient in the final phase of the disease and with a survival of less than one month will be excluded from the study
-
Intervention groups
-
Symptom control includes managing annoying physical symptoms such as pain, digestive symptoms (nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, etc.), respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, cough, etc.), neurological symptoms (delirium, headache, etc.) and other symptoms that will be performed in the outpatient clinic in the form of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
-
Main outcome variables
-
Severity score of common symptoms in cancer patients and their quality of life