Similarity and Stability of Symptom Cluster in Severity and Distress among Persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Authors

  • Chomphoonut Srirat RN, PhD, Lecturer, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Somchit Hanucharurnkul RN, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Suparb Aree-Ue RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
  • Tiraporn Junda RN, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University, Thailand

Keywords:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Symptom experiences, Symptom cluster, Symptom distress, Symptom severity

Abstract

Abstract : This study aimed to explore symptom clusters in severity and distress dimensions as well as similarity and stability, determined twice at 4-weekly intervals, among Thai persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The participants (n=250) were purposively selected to complete the Personal Information Form and the Bronchitis Emphysema Symptom Checklist. A Principal Component Analysis with a Varimax rotation was used to investigate symptom clusters in dimensions of severity and distress at Times 1 and 2, and the similarity and stability of clusters were determined with a numerical approach.
The results demonstrated clusters of symptom severity and distress existed both Times 1 and 2. The similarity in symptom clusters between both dimensions revealed six and five clusters, respectively at Times 1 and Time 2 with a replication rate of 75–100%. At Time 1, six similar clusters were: emotional problems, memory function decline, disease-related fatigue, respiration difficulty, sleep alteration, pain and unpleasant sensation, and chest discomfort, whereas the cluster of disease-related fatigue disappeared at Time 2. As for stability, the four core set of symptom severity and distress identified with a replication rate of more than 75%, were; 1) emotional problems, 2) memory function decline, 3) sleep alteration, and 4) pain and unpleasant sensation.
Findings from this study may enable nurses to assess symptoms as clusters in either distress or severity to develop a cost-effective intervention program for persons with COPD experiencing these clusters of symptoms.

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Published

2015-05-20

How to Cite

1.
Srirat C, Hanucharurnkul S, Aree-Ue S, Junda T. Similarity and Stability of Symptom Cluster in Severity and Distress among Persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2015 May 20 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];19(2):89-106. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/22473

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Section

Original paper