Components that influence assessment and management of cancer-related symptoms: an interdisciplinary perspective.
OBJECTIVE
To describe, from an interdisciplinary perspective, how cancer-related symptoms are assessed and managed in a cancer care setting and to describe the components that influence symptom management.


METHODS
Descriptive, qualitative, and cross-sectional.


METHODS
An oncology and hematology department in a university hospital in western Sweden.


METHODS
31 nurses, physicians, physical therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and a medical social worker who all cared for patients with cancer-related symptoms.


METHODS
Data were collected in focus groups and analyzed using content analysis.


METHODS
Cancer-related symptoms and symptom management.


RESULTS
Symptom management, from a clinician's perspective, is a process involving different components. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: creating a relationship with the patient, understanding the patient, assessing the symptoms, and cooperating as a team.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights several components that should be discussed in an effort to enhance symptom management. Discussion will help ensure that barriers to effective symptom management are acknowledged and addressed when implementing clinical routines designed to enhance management of different symptoms. In addition, these components should be acknowledged in the interest of facilitating adherence to symptom management strategies. Whether these components are important factors from patients' perspectives remains unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancing symptom management is not only a matter of implementing clinical guidelines; it must be preceded by teamwork, assessment, and evaluation method discussions and the ability to create a relationship with the patient. Nurses should be aware that their understanding of a patient affects their assessment of that patient's symptom experience.
Jakobsson
Sofie
S
Institute of Health and Care Sciences in Sahlgrenska Academy, Gotegorg University, Gothenburg, Sweden. sofie.jakobsson@fhs.gu.se
Ekman
Tor
T
Ahlberg
Karin
K
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004046:Dietetics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017144:Focus Groups; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden