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Table 4 Development of intensity and unbearability of symptoms between the pre-final and final interview in patients with at least two interviews (n = 33)*

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

 

Symptom in high intensity†

Symptom unbearable†

 

Pre-final interview % (n)

Final interview % (n)

Difference pre-final and final interview % (95% CI) ‡

Pre-final interview % (n)

Final interview % (n)

Difference pre-final and final interview % (95% CI) ‡

Domain I: Medical symptoms

      

Weakness

36 (12)

55(18)

−18 (−29 to 3)

33 (11)

64(21)

−30 (−41 to −6)

General discomfort

9 (3)

27(9)

−18 (−19 to −1)

25 (8)

42(14)

- 16 (−33 to 9)

Tiredness

39 (13)

55(18)

−15 (−29 to 7)

42 (14)

42(14)

0 (−16 to 16)

Loss of appetite

27 (9)

18(6)

9 (−11 to 23)

27 (9)

36(12)

−9 (−26 to 13)

Pain

24 (8)

21(7)

3 (−11 to 14)

24 (8)

27(9)

−3 (−20 to 16)

Not sleeping well

12 (4)

6(2)

6 (−10 to 17)

9 (3)

24(8)

−15 (−26 to 5)

Changed appearance

30 (10)

42(14)

−12 (−29 to 11)

30 (10)

24(8)

6 (−12 to20)

Shortness of breath

6 (2)

21(7)

−15 (−15 to 0)

12 (4)

21(7)

−9 (−23 to 11)

Vomiting

3 (1)

12(4)

−9 (−9 to 4)

9 (3)

18(6)

−9 (−15 to 7)

Impaired co-ordination

12 (4)

12(4)

0 (−14 to 14)

24 (8)

18(6)

6 (−16 to 25)

Loss of concentration

21 (7)

9(3)

12 (−5 to 18)

16 (5)

18(6)

−3 (−18 to 14)

Memory loss

15 (5)

9(3)

6 (−7 to 12)

19 (6)

18(6)

0 (−11 to 11)

Incomprehensible speech

3 (1)

12(4)

−9 (−15 to 7)

9 (3)

9(3)

0 (−11 to 11)

Domain II: Loss of function

      

Impaired routine daily activities

49 (16)

67(22)

−18 (−35 to 7)

55 (18)

61(20)

−6 (−27 to 18)

Impaired leisure activities

49 (16)

64(21)

−15 (−26 to 5)

42 (14)

52(17)

−9 (−15 to 6)

Help needed with housekeeping

39 (13)

55(18)

−15 (−29 to 7)

42 (14)

39(13)

3 (−16 to 10)

Bedridden

12 (4)

36(12)

−24 (−30 to −5)

18 (6)

36(12)

−18 (−24 to 1)

Help needed with self-care

6 (2)

27(9)

−21 (−27 to −1)

15 (5)

30(10)

−15 (−25 to 5)

Domain III: Personal aspects

      

Not able to do important things

39 (13)

31(10)

9 (−11 to 24)

39 (13)

55(18)

−15 (−26 to 5)

Feeling dependant on others

33 (11)

55(18)

−21 (−32 to 1)

39 (13)

52(17)

−11 (−23 to 8)

Trouble accepting situation

21 (7)

36(12)

−15 (−26 to 5)

27 (9)

39(13)

−12 (−26 to 9)

Loss of control over own life

9 (3)

21(7)

−12 (−23 to 7)

16 (5)

30(10)

−13 (−23 to 8)

Negative thoughts or worrying

12 (4)

16(5)

−3 (−14 to 11)

18 (6)

18(6)

0 (−17 to 17)

Domain IV: Environment

      

Relatives: suffering to severe

9 (3)

9(3)

0**

12 (4)

15(5)

−3 (−9 to 7)

Domain V: Nature and prognosis of disease

      

Fear of future suffering

9 (3)

12(4)

−3 (−14 to 11)

13 (4)

12(4)

0 (−11 to 11)

Overall unbearable suffering

   

13 (4)

33(11)

−20 (−27 to 1)

  1. * Selection of most frequent unbearable symptoms: symptoms which were unbearable (score 4 or 5) in at least 15% (9 patients) in the last interview for all patients with at least one interview; between 0–2 missing observations per symptom; three missing observations for overall unbearable suffering.
  2. † High intensity: score 4 or 5 for intensity according to SOS-V; unbearable: score 4 or 5 for unbearability according to SOS-V.
  3. ‡ 95% confidence intervals calculated taking into account that results for pre-final and final interview are paired per patient; significant outcomes (0 outside of confidence interval) presented in bold.
  4. ** calculation of 95% CI not possible because scores are identical between pre-final and final interview for each patient.