PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES:

To describe the side effects and changes in quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

DESIGN:

Descriptive, repeated measures.

SETTING:

A radiation therapy department in a large university setting.

SAMPLE:

Nine patients receiving HDR brachytherapy to the bronchus and 18 patients receiving HDR brachytherapy for gynecologic cancer.

METHODS:

Patient self-administered questionnaires and chart review.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES:

Side effects and QOL.

FINDINGS:

Patients receiving gynecologic treatments experienced fatigue, diarrhea, urinary frequency, and urinary burning. Few changes occurred in QOL over time. Patients receiving bronchial treatments experienced cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. A decline in physical functioning occurred in the QOL measures over time.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients receiving HDR brachytherapy experience similar side effects as patients receiving external beam radiation to the same site. Patients receiving treatment to the bronchus did not show improved QOL after treatment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE:

This data can be used in teaching patients about the experience of receiving HDR brachytherapy, planning symptom management for these patients, planning future research exploring the relationship between side effects and QOL, further documenting the side effects of HDR brachytherapy, and examining the efficacy of nursing interventions for side effects.