Symptom burden among patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC): content for a symptom index
2007

Symptom Burden in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients

Sample size: 31 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Harding Gale, Cella David, Robinson Don Jr, Mahadevia Parthiv J, Clark Jason, Revicki Dennis A

Primary Institution: UBC Center for Health Outcomes Research

Hypothesis

The study aims to identify the relevant symptoms experienced by patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to develop a disease-specific symptom index.

Conclusion

A new RCC Symptom Index was created to effectively capture the relevant signs and symptoms of both localized and metastatic RCC patients.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study identified the most frequent symptoms reported by localized and metastatic RCC patients.
  • A total of 31 patients participated in the study, providing insights into their symptom experiences.
  • The RCC Symptom Index was developed based on patient feedback and existing literature.

Takeaway

Doctors wanted to know what symptoms kidney cancer patients feel, so they asked a lot of patients and made a list to help understand their needs better.

Methodology

A national cross-sectional study was conducted with adult RCC patients who completed a pilot questionnaire and participated in interviews.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the convenience sampling method and reliance on self-reported data.

Limitations

The study relied on self-reported disease stage, which may not be accurate, and the sample was predominantly Caucasian and well-educated, limiting generalizability.

Participant Demographics

{"mean_age":55,"gender_distribution":{"male":55,"female":45},"education":{"college_attendance":74,"high_school_or_higher":100},"race":{"Caucasian":97,"other":3}}

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1477-7525-5-34

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