Symptom Clusters Predictive of Quality of Life Among Jordanian Women with Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to explore symptom clusters among women with breast cancer in Jordan.

DATA SOURCES: A cross-sectional survey of 516 women with breast cancer who were recruited from three hospitals.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that women with breast cancer experienced several symptoms at the same time. These symptoms tend to cluster in five main groups, and patients experiencing the psychological, nausea and vomiting, and pain clusters are expected to have a lower mean score of quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses need to assess and manage symptoms as clusters to improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer. Symptoms clusters should guide symptoms management practice and be given a priority equal to the active treatment of cancer. Symptoms management and cancer treatment should be started simultaneously.