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Table 2 Relationship between symptom intensity and unbearability for symptoms in the domain of: medical signs and symptoms (n = 60)

From: Symptoms, unbearability and the nature of suffering in terminal cancer patients dying at home: a prospective primary care study

 

Symptom present % *(n)

Symptom high intensity % *(n)

High intensity and unbearable % *(n)

Percentage unbearable when high intensity %

Symptom low intensity % *(n)

Low intensity and unbearable %(n)

Percentage unbearable when low intensity %

Symptom unbearable % *(n)

Domain I: Medical symptoms

        

Weakness

93 (56)

51 (31)

43 (26)

84

42 (25)

14 (8)

32

57 (34)

Tiredness

87 (52)

48 (29)

28 (17)

59

39 (23)

7 (4)

17

35 (21)

General discomfort

80 (48)

27 (16)

17 (10)

63

53 (32)

20 (12)

38

37 (22)

Changed appearance

78 (47)

40 (24)

20 (12)

50

38 (23)

2 (1)

4

22 (13)

Pain

72 (43)

20 (12)

18 (11)

92

52 (31)

7 (4)

13

25 (15)

Loss of appetite

62 (37)

24 (14)

10 (6)

43

38 (23)

15 (9)

39

25 (15)

Shortness of breath

59 (35)

17 (10)

14 (8)

80

42 (25)

5 (3)

12

19 (11)

Impaired co-ordination

57 (34)

17 (10)

13 (8)

80

40 (24)

5 (3)

13

18 (11)

Not sleeping well

47 (28)

12 (7)

10 (6)

86

35 (21)

15 (9)

43

25 (15)

Thirst

45 (27)

18 (11)

10 (6)

55

27 (16)

2 (1)

6

12 (7)

Feeling tensed

44 (26)

12 (7)

10 (6)

86

32 (19)

2 (1)

5

12 (7)

Memory loss

43 (26)

12 (7)

7 (4)

57

32 (19)

8 (5)

26

15 (9)

Impaired sight

42 (25)

5 (3)

3 (2)

67

37 (22)

4 (2)

9

7 (4)

Impaired mental clarity

42 (25)

10 (6)

5 (3)

50

32 (19)

7 (4)

21

12 (7)

Loss of concentration

40 (24)

13 (8)

12 (7)

88

27 (16)

5 (3)

19

17 (10)

Coughing

38 (23)

2 (1)

2 (1)

100

36 (22)

3 (2)

9

5 (3)

Swallow food impaired

35 (21)

7 (4)

7 (4)

100

28 (17)

5 (3)

18

12 (7)

Smelling unpleasant

35 (21)

8 (5)

8 (5)

100

27 (16)

3 (3)

19

13 (8)

Feeling depressed

34 (20)

3 (2)

2 (1)

50

31 (18)

10 (6)

33

12 (7)

Impaired hearing

33 (20)

8 (5)

7 (4)

80

25 (15)

8 (4)

27

13 (8)

Incomprehensible speech

32 (19)

14 (8)

12 (7)

88

18 (11)

3 (2)

18

15 (9)

Itch

32 (19)

8 (5)

5 (3)

60

24 (14)

2 (1)

7

7 (4)

Constipation

30 (18)

8 (5)

8 (5)

100

22 (13)

4 (2)

15

12 (7)

Nausea

28 (17)

12 (7)

8 (5)

71

16 (10)

5 (3)

30

13 (8)

Dizziness

27 (16)

5 (3)

5 (3)

100

22 (13)

7 (4)

31

12 (7)

Vomiting

27 (16)

9 (5)

7 (4)

80

18 (11)

13 (8)

73

20 (12)

Feeling anxious

27 (16)

5 (3)

3 (2)

67

22 (13)

4 (2)

15

7 (4)

Swallowing fluid impaired

23 (14)

5 (3)

5 (3)

100

18 (11)

2 (1)

9

7 (4)

Hiccups

22 (13)

7 (4)

5 (3)

75

15 (9)

5 (3)

33

10 (6)

Intestinal cramps

22 (13)

5 (3)

3 (2)

67

17 (10)

5 (3)

30

8 (5)

Diarrhea

20 (12)

3 (2)

3 (2)

100

17 (10)

4 (2)

20

7 (4)

Incontinence of urine

10 (6)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0

10 (6)

0 (0)

0

0 (0)

Incontinence of feces

8 (5)

2 (1)

2 (1)

100

6 (4)

5 (3)

75

7 (4)

Pressure ulcers

8 (5)

2 (1)

2 (1)

100

6 (4)

1 (1)

25

3 (2)

Impaired comprehension of speech

7 (4)

2 (1)

2 (1)

100

5 (3)

1 (1)

33

3 (2)

Paralyzed limbs

5 (3)

2 (1)

2 (1)

100

3 (2)

0 (0)

0

2 (1)

Skin metastasis

3 (2)

3 (2)

2 (1)

50

0 (0)

0 (0)

0

2 (1)

  1. Rounded percentages and absolute numbers; between 0 to 1 missing observations per symptom.
  2. Scoring: 1-not at all; 2-slightly; 3-moderately; 4-seriously; 5-very seriously, hardly can be worse.
  3. Symptom present: intensity scores 2–5.
  4. Low intensity: scores 1–3; High intensity: scores 4–5; Bearable suffering: scores 1–3; Unbearable suffering: scores 4–5.
  5. *: percentage of interviewed patients followed up until death.
  6. n: number of patients.