European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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Evaluate how subgroups of older adults with distinct attentional function profiles differ on the severity of nine common symptoms and determine demographic and clinical characteristics and symptom severity scores associated with membership in the low and moderate attentional function classes. ⋯ Consistent with the hypothesis that an increased risk for persistent cognitive decline is likely related to a variety of physical and psychological factors, for six of the nine symptoms, a "dose response" effect was observed with higher symptom severity scores associated with a progressive decline in attentional function.