The change of symptom clusters in gastric cancer patients during the perioperative period: a longitudinal study

Aim and objectives The purpose of this study was to describe the number, type and trajectory of symptom clusters during the perioperative period in patients with gastric cancer at four different time points. The study also aimed to identify the changes and consistency of these symptom clusters over time. Design This was a longitudinal study. Methods This study was conducted in a tertiary cancer hospital with 205 patients with gastric cancer. The M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Gastrointestinal Cancer Module was used to assess the incidence and severity of symptom clusters. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract symptom clusters. Results The study identified four symptom clusters in patients with gastric cancer during the perioperative period: gastrointestinal symptom cluster, physical symptom cluster, psychological symptom cluster, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster. These clusters were observed across two to four time points. Conclusion The findings of this study provide scientific evidence for medical staff and researchers to better understand the symptoms of patients with gastrointestinal cancer during the perioperative period. These findings can help develop individualized interventions for managing symptoms. Relevance to clinical practice Gastric cancer patients suffered from various symptom clusters, which lasted from one day before surgery to one month after surgery. They should be given careful consideration by clinical staff.