Symptom burden and functional performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Date
2021-10-06
Authors
Melhem, Omar
Savage, Eileen
Al Hmaimat, Nathira
Lehane, Elaine
Abdel Fattah, Hadya
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Elsevier B.V.
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Abstract
Background: The burden of COPD is growing, and it is one of the leading disease burdens worldwide. Studies on symptom burden as a multidimensional concept in COPD and functional performance are lacking, and little is known about the effect of multiple symptoms and symptom burden on functional performance. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational survey design was used. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and the Functional Performance Inventory-Short Form (FPI-SF) were used to measure the symptom burden and functional performance. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Participants (n=214) were recruited from the respiratory outpatient clinic in one of the teaching hospitals in Ireland. Results: Patients with COPD, regardless of classification, experienced significant physical and psychological symptom burden. A total of 20 symptoms were negatively correlated with overall functional performance, indicating a high symptom burden for those symptoms was associated with low overall functional performance. A statistically significant negative correlation between physical symptom burden, psychological symptom burden, total symptom burden, and functional performance was found. Conclusion: Patients with COPD experience a significant symptom burden and low functional performance. Decreased functional performance was not related only to a single burdensome symptom, but may also be related to the contribution of several physical/psychological burdensome symptoms, or both. Assessment and management of these symptoms are essential and imply that alleviating these symptomsâ burden may promote improved functional performance. This study supported the growing body of evidence of the need for patients with advanced COPD to receive palliative care.
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Keywords
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) , Symptoms , Symptom burden , Activity of daily living , ADLS function , Functional performance
Citation
Melhem, O., Savage, E., Al Hmaimat, N., Lehane, E. and Abdel Fattah, H. (2021) 'Symptom burden and functional performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease', Applied Nursing Research. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2021.151510