Abstract

Osteosarcoma is the first most common childhood bone tumour derived from mesenchymal stem cells. Osteosarcoma occurs mostly in the first 20 years of life and the risk decreases with advancing age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nursing care process according to symptom management theory in a paediatric patient with osteosarcoma in paediatric oncology clinic. The patient was given nursing care for the symptoms experienced in line with the dimensions in the Symptom Management Theory, and his compliance with the treatment and symptom management process was evaluated. A 15-year-old male patient was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 9 months ago. After the surgical operation, he was re-admitted to the clinic to receive the 3rd week of the EURAMOS protocol. Oral mucositis (Grade 2), nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea were observed after high dose methotrexate treatment in the 2nd week of the treatment period. Symptoms were evaluated daily during the 7-day symptom management process. Appropriate nursing interventions for nursing diagnoses were determined and implemented. Oral mucositis was evaluated as Grade 0 at the end of the 7th day. In nausea-vomiting, the number of vomiting after the first 3 days was evaluated as 0. The number of diarrhoea after two days was evaluated as 0. According to the study’s findings, it has been determined that the Symptom Management Theory can be used in the management of symptoms occurring in children with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma following chemotherapy treatment. Systematic and comprehensive assessment of symptoms, the planning of appropriate nursing interventions, and the use of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in practice are believed to be effective in reducing symptoms.

Keywords: Child; Nursing care; Osteosarcoma; Symptom Management