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01-12-2011 | Original Article

The experience of cough in patients diagnosed with lung cancer

Authors: Alex Molassiotis, Matthew Lowe, Jacqueline Ellis, Richard Wagland, Chris Bailey, Mari Lloyd-Williams, Carol Tishelman, Jaclyn Smith

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 12/2011

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the patient experience of cough in a population of patients with lung cancer.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory study design was developed and elicited the views of 26 patients with lung cancer who had current or past experience with cough.

Results

The data's four themes highlight the complex and distressing nature of cough, including its interaction with other symptoms, such as breathlessness, fatigue and sleep disturbance. A theme around descriptions of cough suggests typically a dry tickly cough and highlights mechanical and environmental triggers for cough. The theme around the effects of cough in daily life shows the impact of cough in socialising, the embarrassment from cough and the psychological effects experienced by patients. The last theme focuses on strategies for coping with and managing cough, showing the perceived ineffectiveness of current antitussives and the patients' use of a variety of approaches on an ad hoc basis to try to manage their cough often unsuccessfully.

Conclusion

Cough has not received the same attention as other cancer symptoms, which means that patients' experience of a distressing and difficult symptom is often unnoticed by health care professionals. More clinical and research attention in this debilitating symptom is necessary.

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Title: The experience of cough in patients diagnosed with lung cancer
Authors: Alex Molassiotis
Matthew Lowe
Jacqueline Ellis
Richard Wagland
Chris Bailey
Mari Lloyd-Williams
Carol Tishelman
Jaclyn Smith
Publication date: 01-12-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 12/2011
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-1050-3

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