Radiotherapy-related symptom clusters in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a network analysis

LI Jing; CAI Wenwen; WU Qingcai; TANG Chao; CAO Yueyao; SONG Yalan

doi:10.16460/j.issn2097-6569.2025.14.001

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Journal of Nursing ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (14) : 1-6. DOI: 10.16460/j.issn2097-6569.2025.14.001

Radiotherapy-related symptom clusters in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a network analysis

LI Jing^a, CAI Wenwen^b, WU Qingcai^b, TANG Chao^b, CAO Yueyao^a, SONG Yalan^a

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Abstract

Objectives To investigate the prevalence and severity of symptoms in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during radiotherapy, to construct a network of radiotherapy-related symptoms for this group of population to identify symptom clusters, core symptoms and bridge symptom, and to provide reference for precise symptom management. Methods From November 2023 to August 2024, we recruited 210 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients by using convenience sampling from a tertiary grade-A hospital in Guangzhou. General Information Questionnaire and Anderson Symptom Assessment Scale Head and Neck Module were used to investigate the patients. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract symptom clusters. A symptom network based on R packages was constructed; centrality indicators and core symptoms and bridge symptoms were analyzed and determined. Results The most common symptom of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients undergoing radiotherapy was oral or pharyngeal mucus (99.5%); The most serious symptom was dry mouth; Four symptom clusters were identified: oropharyngeal symptom cluster, mood sleep symptom cluster, gastrointestinal symptom cluster and nerve-related symptom cluster, which could explain 69.163% of the total variance. In symptom network, difficulty swallowing or chewing had the greatest strength and expected influence (r_s=1.400, r_E=1.398); fatigue had the greatest closeness and bridge strength (r_c=0.004,r_bs=0.610). Conclusion Oropharyngeal symptom cluster is the core symptom cluster; difficulty swallowing or chewing is the core symptom, and fatigue is the most important bridge symptom in the symptom group of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy. Nursing staff can develop individualized interventions for core symptom and bridge symptom to improve the efficiency of symptom management in patients undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

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nasopharyngeal carcinoma / radiotherapy / core symptom / symptom network / symptom management

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LI Jing, CAI Wenwen, WU Qingcai, TANG Chao, CAO Yueyao, SONG Yalan. Radiotherapy-related symptom clusters in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a network analysis[J]. Journal of Nursing. 2025, 32(14): 1-6 https://doi.org/10.16460/j.issn2097-6569.2025.14.001

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