Symptom Clusters and Mindful Self-Care in People with Cancer in Palliative Care

<b>Introduction</b>: Cancer is one of the evils of the current era and is considered a global public health problem. This disease has repercussions for the lives of patients in several dimensions, namely, physical, emotional, and psychosocial. Thus, it is believed that elements such as resilience, symptomatology, and self-care are related, as the disease and its treatments can have repercussions that extend beyond the clinic. <b>Background/Objectives</b>: We aimed to determine the relationship between symptom clusters and the mindful self-care of people with cancer in palliative care. <b>Methods</b>: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 125 palliative care patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms. The research was carried out at a reference hospital in Brazil, located in the western region of the state of Santa Catarina, specializing in antineoplastic treatment. The data were collected between May and August 2023 from hospitalized patients. Three instruments were employed to obtain data: a sociodemographic and clinical data questionnaire, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-BR), and the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS). For data analysis, descriptive statistics were used to characterize the participants, Student's T-test was used for the other parametric tests, and variables with statistical evidence were selected for a linear regression model. <b>Results</b>: A statistically significant association was found between mindful self-care and symptoms of pain, tiredness, drowsiness, shortness of breath, depression, and malaise, with sleepiness being the only predictor of changes in this variable. <b>Conclusions</b>: Mindful self-care influences patients' experience of symptoms, especially drowsiness, which predicts changes in self-care. Encouraging these practices reduces discomfort, enhances autonomy, and guides professionals in personalized care.

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Journal
Healthcare
Published
2025-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13182317
Primary Topic
Health and Wellbeing Research
Type
article
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article

Symptom Clusters and Mindful Self-Care in People with Cancer in Palliative Care

Kassiano Carlos Sinski, Gonçalo Cordeiro Ferreira, João Humberto Guandalini Batista, Thaís Daniela Cavalaro Santos Machado et al.
Healthcare
Health and Wellbeing Research
article

Symptom Clusters and Mindful Self-Care in People with Cancer in Palliative Care

Kassiano Carlos Sinski, Gonçalo Cordeiro Ferreira, João Humberto Guandalini Batista, Thaís Daniela Cavalaro Santos Machado, Andrey Oeiras Pedroso, Namiê Okino Sawada, Vander Monteiro da Conceição, Rosana Aparecida Spadoti Dantas, Érica de Brito Pitilin, Yndaiá Zamboni
article en

Abstract

<b>Introduction</b>: Cancer is one of the evils of the current era and is considered a global public health problem. This disease has repercussions for the lives of patients in several dimensions, namely, physical, emotional, and psychosocial. Thus, it is believed that elements such as resilience, symptomatology, and self-care are related, as the disease and its treatments can have repercussions that extend beyond the clinic. <b>Background/Objectives</b>: We aimed to determine the relationship between symptom clusters and the mindful self-care of people with cancer in palliative care. <b>Methods</b>: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 125 palliative care patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms. The research was carried out at a reference hospital in Brazil, located in the western region of the state of Santa Catarina, specializing in antineoplastic treatment. The data were collected between May and August 2023 from hospitalized patients. Three instruments were employed to obtain data: a sociodemographic and clinical data questionnaire, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-BR), and the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS). For data analysis, descriptive statistics were used to characterize the participants, Student's T-test was used for the other parametric tests, and variables with statistical evidence were selected for a linear regression model. <b>Results</b>: A statistically significant association was found between mindful self-care and symptoms of pain, tiredness, drowsiness, shortness of breath, depression, and malaise, with sleepiness being the only predictor of changes in this variable. <b>Conclusions</b>: Mindful self-care influences patients' experience of symptoms, especially drowsiness, which predicts changes in self-care. Encouraging these practices reduces discomfort, enhances autonomy, and guides professionals in personalized care.

HealthcareVol. 13(18)
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (BR), Universidade Federal de Alfenas (BR), Community University of Chapecó Region - Unochapecó (BR), Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 61%
Health and Wellbeing Research
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