Background 

Patients with gynecologic cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience multiple co-occurring symptoms. Understanding how symptom clusters change over time is essential to the development of interventions that target multiple co-occurring symptoms.

Objective 

The aim of this study was to assess the relative stability of symptom clusters across a chemotherapy cycle in patients with gynecologic cancer.

Methods 

This is a longitudinal, descriptive study. Eligible patients (n = 232) were English-speaking adults (≥18 years old) with gynecologic cancer. Data were collected in the week before patients' second or third cycle of chemotherapy (T1) and at 1 (T2) and 2 (T3) weeks after chemotherapy. Three dimensions of the symptom experience (occurrence, severity, and distress) were assessed using a modified version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Symptom clusters for each dimension and time point were identified through exploratory factor analysis.

Results 

A 5-factor solution was selected for each exploratory factor analysis. Hormonal, respiratory, and weight change clusters were identified across all dimensions and time points. A psychological symptom cluster was identified at T1 for occurrence and severity and at T2 and T3 for all 3 dimensions. A gastrointestinal symptom cluster was identified at T1 for occurrence and at T2 and T3 for all 3 dimensions. The hormonal, respiratory, psychological, and weight change symptom clusters exhibited common symptoms across dimensions and time points.

Conclusions 

Hormonal, respiratory, weight change, and psychological symptom clusters are relatively stable across a cycle of chemotherapy in patients with gynecologic cancer.

Implications for Practice 

Clinicians need to assess patients for multiple co-occurring symptoms and initiate multimodal interventions.

中文翻译：

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接受化疗的妇科肿瘤患者症状群的稳定性

背景 

接受化疗的妇科癌症患者会出现多种并发症状。了解症状群如何随时间变化对于开发针对多种同时发生的症状的干预措施至关重要。

客观的 

本研究的目的是评估妇科癌症患者整个化疗周期中症状群的相对稳定性。

方法 

这是一项纵向的描述性研究。符合条件的患者 (n = 232) 是讲英语的成年妇科癌症患者（≥18 岁）。在患者的第二个或第三个化疗周期 (T1) 前一周以及化疗后 1 (T2) 和 2 (T3) 周收集数据。使用修改版的纪念症状评估量表评估症状体验的三个维度（发生、严重程度和痛苦）。通过探索性因素分析确定每个维度和时间点的症状群。

结果 

每个探索性因素分析都选择了一个 5 因素解决方案。在所有维度和时间点上都确定了荷尔蒙、呼吸和体重变化集群。在 T1 的发生和严重程度以及所有 3 个维度的 T2 和 T3 确定了一个心理症状群。胃肠道症状群在 T1 发生，在所有 3 个维度在 T2 和 T3 确定。荷尔蒙、呼吸、心理和体重变化症状群在不同维度和时间点上表现出共同症状。

结论 

在妇科癌症患者的化疗周期中，激素、呼吸、体重变化和心理症状群相对稳定。

实践意义 

临床医生需要评估患者的多种并发症状并启动多模式干预。