Symptom clusters in cancer patients which are determined statistics way: a review of the literature

OBJECTIVES Symptom clusters are defined as two or more concurrent symptoms that are related and may or may not have a common cause. The aim of this study was to investigate the cluster of symptoms in cancer patients. METHODS Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane can be accessed online. These resources and printed journals were screened in Turkey. Studies that investigated predetermined clusters were not included. RESULTS We identified seven individual studies and one group of five studies validating the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. Two of the seven individual studies and the group of five studies that had validated the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory included patients with any cancer type; another studies included breast cancer patients; and two studies included lung cancer patients only. CONCLUSION Research on symptom clusters is still at an early stage. Multiple symptoms clearly affect prognosis, quality of life, and functional status. The study of symptom clusters has important implications regarding patient management.