To identify symptom clusters in colorectal cancer patients after surgery and chemotherapy and determine core symptoms using network analysis for better symptom management strategies in clinical practice.
Key Findings:
Three symptom clusters identified: gastrointestinal-psychological, neurotoxicity, and CRC-specific.
'Poor appetite' had the highest node strength (rs=1.362) and expected influence (re=1.362).
'Nausea' exhibited the highest closeness (rc=0.007) and betweenness centrality (rb=48).
Fatigue had the highest incidence rate at 89.6%.
Interpretation:
The prominence of poor appetite and nausea in the symptom network highlights the need for targeted management strategies in clinical practice.
Limitations:
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
The sample may not represent all colorectal cancer patients due to convenience sampling, potentially affecting the generalizability of the findings.
Conclusion:
Prioritizing management of poor appetite and nausea, along with addressing fatigue, may enhance the overall symptom experience for colorectal cancer patients.
