Contemporaneous symptom networks analysis in lymphoma patients during chemotherapy: protocol for a single-centre prospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundSymptom networks offer a theoretical basis for developing personalised and precise symptom management strategies. However, symptom networks in lymphoma patients during chemotherapy have been rarely reported. This study intends to establish contemporaneous symptom networks in lymphoma patients during chemotherapy and explore the centrality indices and density in these symptom networks.Methods and analysisThis is a single-centre prospective cross-sectional study. A total of 315 lymphoma patients admitted to the Lymphoma Department of Shanxi Bethune Hospital since 1 June 2024 will be selected as the study subjects. The patient-reported outcome measures of General Data Questionnaire and Lymphoma Symptom Assessment Scale will be assessed. R package will be used to construct a contemporaneous symptom network, explore the relationship between core and analysed symptoms and analyse the predictive role of network density on patient prognosis.Ethics and disseminationThis study adheres to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant ethical guidelines. Ethical approval has been obtained from Shanxi Bethune Hospital Ethics Committee (approval number: YXLL-2023-186). The final outcomes will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated through a conference.