Investigating the Complexity of Multidimensional Symptom Experiences in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review of the Network Analysis Approach
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| Title: | Investigating the Complexity of Multidimensional Symptom Experiences in Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review of the Network Analysis Approach |
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| Authors: | Richard, Vincent, Gilbert, Allison, Pizzolla, Emanuela, BRIGANTI, Giovanni |
| Contributors: | M121 - Service de Médecine computationnelle et Neuropsychiatrie, Santé |
| Source: | JMIR Cancer, 11, e66087 (2025-07-09) |
| Publisher Information: | JMIR Publications Inc. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Subject Terms: | cancer patients, cancer treatment, network analysis, symptom management, systematic review, Humans, Network Meta-Analysis as Topic, symptoms, Cancer Survivors/psychology, Neoplasms/psychology, Neoplasms/therapy, Quality of Life, Human health sciences, Oncology, Sciences de la santé humaine, Oncologie |
| Description: | peer reviewed ; Background: Advances in therapies have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with cancer. However, multidimensional symptoms negatively impact patients’ quality of life. Traditional symptom analysis methods fail to capture the dynamic and interactive nature of these symptoms, limiting progress in supportive care. Network analysis (NA) is a promising method to evaluate complex medical situations. Objective: We performed a systematic review to explore NA’s contribution to understanding the complexity of symptom experiences in patients with cancer. Methods: The research question was as follows: “In patients with cancer (population), what is the contribution of NA (intervention) to understanding the complexity of multidimensional symptom experiences (outcome)?” The keywords “network analysis” AND “symptoms” AND “cancer survivors” OR “cancer patients” were searched in MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus between 2010 and 2024. Citations were extracted using Covidence software. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and resolved inclusion disagreements through consensus. Data were synthetized, and results have been narratively described. Bias analysis was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies tool. Results: Among 764 articles initially identified, 22 were included. Studies evaluated mixed solid tumors (n=10), digestive tract cancers (n=4), breast cancer (n=3), head and neck cancer (n=2), gliomas (n=2), and mixed solid and hematological cancers (n=1). Twelve studies used general symptom assessment tools, whereas 10 focused on neuropsychological symptoms. Moreover, 1 study evaluated symptoms at diagnosis, 1 evaluated them during curative radiotherapy, 4 evaluated them during the perioperative period, 5 evaluated them during chemotherapy, 4 evaluated them during ongoing cancer therapies, and 7 evaluated them after acute treatments. Among these, 3 evaluated the longitudinal changes in symptom networks across chemotherapy cycles, and 1 evaluated ... |
| Document Type: | article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 2369-1999 |
| Relation: | urn:issn:2369-1999; https://orbi.umons.ac.be/handle/20.500.12907/52962; info:hdl:20.500.12907/52962 |
| DOI: | 10.2196/66087 |
| Availability: | https://orbi.umons.ac.be/handle/20.500.12907/52962 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12907/52962 https://orbi.umons.ac.be/bitstream/20.500.12907/52962/1/cancer-2025-1-e66087.pdf https://doi.org/10.2196/66087 |
| Rights: | open access ; http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 ; info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Accession Number: | edsbas.C77B5E7F |
| Database: | BASE |
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Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | peer reviewed ; Background: Advances in therapies have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with cancer. However, multidimensional symptoms negatively impact patients’ quality of life. Traditional symptom analysis methods fail to capture the dynamic and interactive nature of these symptoms, limiting progress in supportive care. Network analysis (NA) is a promising method to evaluate complex medical situations. Objective: We performed a systematic review to explore NA’s contribution to understanding the complexity of symptom experiences in patients with cancer. Methods: The research question was as follows: “In patients with cancer (population), what is the contribution of NA (intervention) to understanding the complexity of multidimensional symptom experiences (outcome)?” The keywords “network analysis” AND “symptoms” AND “cancer survivors” OR “cancer patients” were searched in MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus between 2010 and 2024. Citations were extracted using Covidence software. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and resolved inclusion disagreements through consensus. Data were synthetized, and results have been narratively described. Bias analysis was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies tool. Results: Among 764 articles initially identified, 22 were included. Studies evaluated mixed solid tumors (n=10), digestive tract cancers (n=4), breast cancer (n=3), head and neck cancer (n=2), gliomas (n=2), and mixed solid and hematological cancers (n=1). Twelve studies used general symptom assessment tools, whereas 10 focused on neuropsychological symptoms. Moreover, 1 study evaluated symptoms at diagnosis, 1 evaluated them during curative radiotherapy, 4 evaluated them during the perioperative period, 5 evaluated them during chemotherapy, 4 evaluated them during ongoing cancer therapies, and 7 evaluated them after acute treatments. Among these, 3 evaluated the longitudinal changes in symptom networks across chemotherapy cycles, and 1 evaluated ... |
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| ISSN: | 23691999 |
| DOI: | 10.2196/66087 |