Effect of progressive muscle relaxation on symptom clusters in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: A quasi-experimental controlled trial

Symptom clusters in patients receiving chemotherapy: A systematic review

“…Of the 23 studies included in this review, 13 used a cross-sectional design to identify symptom clusters in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy (online supplemental table 1). Seven studies were conducted in the USA,29 32–37 two in China,38 39 two in Thailand,40 41 one in Austria,42 and one in Turkey 43. Sample sizes ranged from 9641 to 1328 29.…”

“…Seven studies were conducted in the USA,29 32–37 two in China,38 39 two in Thailand,40 41 one in Austria,42 and one in Turkey 43. Sample sizes ranged from 9641 to 1328 29. Across these studies, the majority of patients were female (weighted grand mean 76.8%), outpatients, not working, had a weighted grand mean age of 55.0 years, and were relatively homogeneous in terms of ethnicity and race.…”

“…Five studies evaluated for symptom clusters in patients with heterogeneous types of cancer 29 32 33 35 42. Of the eight studies that evaluated for clusters in patients with homogeneous types of cancer, four evaluated patients with breast cancer,34 36 40 41 one with bladder cancer,39 one with leukaemia,38 one with lymphoma,43 and one with lung cancer 37…”

“…One study used multiple symptom assessment tools to assess for clusters;34 specifically, the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Brief Pain Inventory, the Patient’s Assessment of Own Functioning, and the Profile of Mood States. One study each used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale,41 the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI),39 and the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist 42…”

“…Nine of the 13 studies used EFA to identify symptom clusters 32–37 39 41 42. Of the remaining studies, two used principal component analysis (PCA),38 40 one used HCA43 and one used NA 29…”