Analysis of symptom clusters in Chinese cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, or postoperative chemoradiotherapy

Objective: To assess the common symptom clusters in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy alone, chemoradiotherapy, or postoperative chemoradiotherapy, and evaluate differences among multi-modality treatment in these symptom clusters. Materials and Methods: Ninety-three patients diagnosed with cervical cancer were recruited to the survey, in which destination time was the fourth friday of radiotherapy. Symptoms of patients were evaluated by the Chinese version of the 13-item M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Results: Among the symptoms, lack of appetite was the most common and the most severe symptome, treatment modalities may have important effects on symptom clusters in cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Conclusion: The results offer valuable information for the future development treatment-based symptom cluster intervention.

Symptom clusters; Exploratory factor analysis; Cervical cancer; Radiotherapy; Chemoradiotherapy.

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