The Relationship between Cognitive Status and Symptom Control in Cancer Patients.

Background: Cognitive impairments are a common and negative side effect in individuals receiving chemotherapy. Objective: This study aimed to determine the cognitive status and symptom control in individuals undergoing chemotherapy and investigate the relationship between them. Methods: The descriptive research sample consisted of 140 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at the outpatient chemotherapy unit and medical oncology service of a training and research hospital. Individuals who were newly starting chemotherapy and undergoing chemotherapy were included in the sample. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy--Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog). Data were collected at two time points, before chemotherapy and after receiving four cycles of chemotherapy. Results: It was found that the total symptom scores significantly increased after four cycles of chemotherapy (p<0.05). The scores of "Perceived Cognitive Impairments," "Comments From Others," and "Perceived Cognitive Abilities" were significantly decreases after four cycles of chemotherapy, while no significant changes were found in the scores of "Impact of Perceived Cognitive Function on Quality of Life" (p>0.05). A negative and significant correlation was found between the FACT-Cog and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores (p<0.001). Conclusions: Cognitive status is negatively affected during the chemotherapy, and the severity of symptoms contributes to cognitive impairment. It is recommended to monitor the cognitive status of individuals receiving chemotherapy at regular intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]