Cancer Treatment-Related Symptoms Aggregation and Distribution among Saudi Children with Cancer

Purpose: Children and adolescents with cancer experience multiple distressing symptoms during and after chemotherapy treatment. This study aimed at secondary analyzing of reported symptoms experienced by Saudi children and adolescents with cancer over multiple cycles of chemotherapy treatment, identifying the experiencing of similar symptom trajectories. Methods: Subjects were 130 Saudi children and adolescents recruited from four tertiary hospitals who completed the sociodemographic and clinical data sheet, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS 10-18) and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) Scale. Findings: Four discrete classes using latent class profile analysis were recognized: minimum distress (Class I), physical prominent distress (Class II), psychological prominent distress (Class III), and maximum distress (Class VI). Vomiting (M=0.88) was reported as the most distressing symptom in Class I, whereas lack of energy was the most prevalent distressing symptom in Class II (M=3.1). Subjects reported worrying (M=2.68) as the most distressing symptom in Class III of clustering, while lack of energy (M= 4.85) was reported to be the most prevalent in Class VI. Conclusion: Understanding antecedents and patterns of symptom trajectories may help practitioners to improve patients’ care more efficiently, permitting refining of patient outcomes and inspiring a reduction in health care costs and utilization.