Academic Journal
Symptom Networks and Core Symptoms in Patients with Solid Tumors Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review.
| Τίτλος: | Symptom Networks and Core Symptoms in Patients with Solid Tumors Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Li RL; School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China., Zhang XY; School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China., Zhou YW; School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China., Wang YQ; School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China., Liu JE; School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: liujune66@ccmu.edu.cn., Thomas TH; School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Palliative Research Center (PaRC), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: t.thomas@pitt.edu. |
| Πηγή: | Seminars in oncology nursing [Semin Oncol Nurs] 2026 Oct; Vol. 42 (5), pp. 152308. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 30. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Systematic Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8504688 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1878-3449 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07492081 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Semin Oncol Nurs Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Philadelphia, PA : Elsevier, Inc. Original Publication: [Orlando, FL] : Grune & Stratton, [c1985- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Neoplasms*/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Agents*/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents*/adverse effects , Symptom Assessment*, Humans ; Female ; Symptom Burden ; Fatigue ; Male ; Adult ; Nausea ; Middle Aged |
| Περίληψη: | Objectives: To summarize symptom network characteristics in patients with solid tumors undergoing chemotherapy and synthesize evidence on core symptoms, bridge symptoms, and temporal associations. Methods: We systematically searched eight databases through October 2025 to identify studies that applied symptom network analysis to adults with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy. Eligible studies assessed symptoms using cross-sectional, longitudinal, or interventional designs. Two reviewers independently screened articles and extracted data on study characteristics, symptom assessment, and network outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tool. Results: Twenty-seven studies involving 13,452 participants were included, yielding 79 symptom networks. Fatigue was the most frequently identified core symptom (10/20, 50%), whereas sadness, lack of appetite, and nausea each occurred in 10% of studies, with variation across cancer types, treatment phases, and latent classes. Bridge symptoms included disturbed sleep, lack of appetite, and dry mouth (2/7, 28.6%). Studies evaluating temporal associations found that symptoms such as sadness, dyspnea, somnolence, and dry mouth predicted subsequent changes in appetite, distress, nausea, and other outcomes. Strength metrics showed acceptable stability (correlation stability coefficients: 0.28-0.83). Conclusions: Fatigue was frequently identified as a central symptom across studies, largely reflecting evidence from breast cancer studies. Core symptoms varied across cancer types, treatment phases, and latent classes, suggesting heterogeneity. Implications for Nursing Practice: These findings highlight the importance of considering relationships among symptoms in clinical care. Focusing on key symptoms such as fatigue, while tailoring management strategies to cancer-specific symptom patterns, may support more effective symptom management. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Core symptoms; Network analysis; Systematic review |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Antineoplastic Agents) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260730 Date Completed: 20260909 Latest Revision: 20260922 |
| Update Code: | 20260922 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.soncn.2026.152308 |
| PMID: | 42532740 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1878-3449 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.soncn.2026.152308 |