Correlation between physical symptoms and overall comfort in hospitalized cancer patients in palliative care

Abstract

Objective To analyze the correlation between the intensity of physical symptoms and overall comfort levels in hospitalized cancer patients receiving palliative care. Method: This quantitative, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with 155 patients admitted to palliative care units at a university hospital. The General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ) and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, employing Pearson’s correlation (p ≤ 0.05). Results: The ESAS symptom assessment revealed a high symptomatic burden, with anxiety, loss of appetite, and depression standing out as the symptoms with the highest average intensity. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the intensity of most symptoms and overall comfort, indicating that increased symptom burden was associated with reduced comfort. Conclusion: The increased intensity of physical symptoms is associated with a significant reduction in overall comfort, reinforcing the importance of effective strategies for managing these symptoms in palliative nursing practice.