Symptom Clusters and Sentinel Symptoms During the Third and Fourth Cycles of Postoperative Chemotherapy in Lung Cancer Patients

Purpose: Lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality in China, and patients after lobectomy experience serious physical and psychological symptoms during chemotherapy. Studies are lacking about symptom clusters and sentinel symptoms during the postoperative chemotherapy period in lung cancer patients. Objective: To explore the stability of symptom clusters and sentinel symptoms during the 3nd and 4th cycles of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer. Methods: The study was a longitudinal study. Lung cancer patients after lobectomy were measured at 2 separate points:chemotherapy cycle 3 and chemotherapy cycle 4. The measures administered included M.D.Anderson Symptom Inventor Lung Cancer Specific Module and Self-made First Appearance of Symptoms Time Sheet. Results : A total of 180 postoperative patients with lung cancer participated in the study. Five symptom clusters and three sentinel symptoms were identified at chemotherapy cycle 3. Four symptom clusters and three sentinel symptoms were identified at chemotherapy cycle 4. Conclusions: Symptom clusters and sentinel symptoms were relatively stable during the 3nd and 4th cycles of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer. Implications for practice: The understanding of symptom clusters and sentinel symptoms could be beneficial for clinicians to assess and manage symptoms in postoperative patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy. Clinicians should pay close attention to sentinel symptoms and develop effective interventions to reduce the symptom burden of patients.