Perioperative core symptom cluster survey and identification in breast cancer patients

PAN Lu; ZHANG Xi; TIE Wanqin; CHEN Siyu; WANG Rong

doi:10.12104/j.issn.1674-4748.2025.12.006

Abstract：Objective:To explore the stable core symptom cluster of breast cancer patients in different dimensions during the perioperative period through cross-sectional investigation,and to provide reference for accurate and effective symptom management of perioperative breast cancer patients.Methods:A total of 208 perioperative patients with breast cancer from the department of oncology of a tertiary cancer hospital in Yinchuan from September to December 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method,and the general information questionnaire and Memory Symptom Assessment Scale were used to investigate.Exploratory factor analysis was performed on the symptoms with a symptom incidence rate of>20%in the three symptom dimensions,and the percentage consistency and variance contribution rate of the symptom clusters were compared,and the core symptom cluster that was stable in each dimension and had the highest variance contribution rate was explored.Results:Seven symptom clusters were extracted from the three symptom dimensions of breast cancer patients in the perioperative period.Among them,the percentage consistency of somatic symptom cluster psychological symptom cluster,swelling-related symptom clusters and peripheral nerve symptom cluster in the three dimensions was>75%,and the variance contribution rate of somatic symptom group in the three dimensions ranked first.Conclusions:There are differences in the perioperative symptom group of breast cancer patients in different dimensions,but the somatic symptom group(fatigue-dry mouth-pain)is stable and plays a central role in the symptom experience(symptom severity and distress),which is the core symptom cluster of breast cancer patients,and the medical staff can carry out symptom management for breast cancer perioperative patients with this symptom cluster.