Research on symptoms and transitional care needs of patients with lung cancer at the intermission of chemotherapy

Objective To investigate the symptoms and the needs of transitional care for the patients with lung cancer at the intermission of chemotherapy and provide references for the symptom management and carrying out transitional care. Methods Totally 156 patients with lung cancer were investigated by questionnaire survey. Results With the increase of chemotherapy, symptoms such as cough, sputum, dyspnea were relieved after chemotherapy (F=18.266, 20.463, 17.371, P 0.05). 79.49%(124/156)patients did not know the content and function of transitional care, 98.72% (154/156)patients hope to get transitional care through the hospital. Conclusions Symptoms by side effects were getting worse for patients with lung cancer and influenced their daily life. Patients got to know less about transitional care, however they had a strong need for transitional care. We should reinforce the management of symptoms and transitional care to improve their quality of life. Key words: Lung neoplasms; Signs and symptoms; Nursing care; Intermittent chemotherapy