Nonpharmacological Interventions for Managing Symptom Clusters in Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: The complex effects of multiple co-occurring symptoms are a major cause of reduced quality of life; thus, it is necessary to identify symptom clusters experienced by patients and explore interventions. This study aimed to provide an overview of non-pharmacological interventions based on symptom clusters in adults to identify effective intervention strategies and methods. Methods. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. For the search databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, RISS, KISS, and KISTI were used. It includes English and Korean experimental studies published up to May 2023. The literature quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Assessment Tool. Results. Of the 18 studies selected, 15 were randomized controlled trials and three were quasi-experimental studies, all of which were conducted on patients with cancer. The symptom clusters-based interventions in the literature are classified as movement-based, relaxation-based, integrated, and miscellaneous interventions. Integrated interventions, which were effective in all studies, might prove to be very effective for managing symptom clusters. Movement-based intervention studies, which include dance, Qigong, and Tai Chi, might be very effective in improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Conclusions. This review demonstrates that non-pharmacological interventions reduce the occurrence and severity of symptom clusters, thereby improving HRQoL. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of these interventions in patients with various chronic conditions other than cancer.