Affiliation:
1. School of Nursing Fudan University Shanghai China
2. Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute Jinan China
3. Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University Jiaxing China
4. First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou China
5. Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Shanghai China
Abstract
AbstractBackground and AimsFurther exploration is needed to recognize symptom clusters and categorize subgroups with distinct cluster patterns and associated risks, focusing on symptoms that are highly self‐reported by patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. This study aimed to identify subgroups and risk factors for self‐reported high symptom cluster burden among patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.MethodsA total of 647 participants who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study, with data collected on demographics, disease information, self‐reported symptoms, and psychosocial factors. Latent class analysis was utilized to identify the subgroup, while logistic regression was used to pinpoint predictive risk factors.ResultsLatent class analysis revealed three subgroups: the “high burden of all symptoms group” (n = 107, 16.54%), the “high burden of psychological symptoms group” (n = 103, 15.92%), and the “low burden of all symptoms group” (n = 437, 67.54%). Patients in the high burden of all symptom group and high burden of psychological symptom group exhibited significantly worse function outcomes (p < 0.001). Predictive risk factors for the “high burden of all symptom group” included older age, lower self‐efficacy, worse body image, and a higher financial burden. Similarly, patients with high burden of psychological symptom were more likely to have low self‐efficacy, poor body image, and a high financial burden.ConclusionThe study demonstrated the importance of giving more attention to patients with breast cancer who are at risk of developing into membership of high symptom cluster burden group.