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Advancing Global Cancer Symptom Science: Insights and Strategies From the Inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert
Sara Colomer-Lahiguera1, Rachel A Pozzar, Carolyn S Harris
1Author Affiliations: Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Institute of Higher Education and Research in Health Care (Drs Colomer-Lahiguera and Eicher), Switzerland; The Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Drs Pozzar, Cooley, and Hammer), Boston, Massachusetts; University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing (Drs Harris, Conley, Rosenzweig, and Wesmiller), Pennsylvania; City of Hope, Duarte, CA (Dr Brant), California; Children's National Hospital and School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University (Dr Hinds), Washington, DC; Princess Margaret Cancer Research Center, University of Toronto (Dr Howell), Canada; National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD (Dr Mitchell), Maryland; Careum School of Health, Part of the Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences (Dr Ribi), Zürich, Switzerland; and Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco (Dr Miaskowski).
Nurse scientists established the Global Research Alliance in Symptom Science (GRASS) to advance cancer symptom research and clinical practice. This alliance aims to improve symptom data utilization and management globally.
Area of Science:
- Symptom science
- Implementation science
- Cancer research
- Chronic disease management
Background:
- The "Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting" convened 40 nurse scientists from seven countries.
- The meeting focused on enhancing global collaboration and identifying research gaps in symptom science.
- Discussions addressed challenges and opportunities in international symptom science research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize discussions and recommendations from the expert meeting.
- To establish the Global Research Alliance in Symptom Science (GRASS).
- To foster international collaboration and accelerate symptom science research.
Main Methods:
- Presentations highlighted critical issues and unanswered questions in cancer symptom science.
- Four working groups focused on identified knowledge gaps and strategic directions.
- Discussions included the co-occurrence of cancer with other chronic conditions.
Main Results:
- Four key recommendations were developed by working groups.
- Focus areas included symptom data collection/analysis, minimum datasets, implementation science, and global alliance infrastructure.
- The groundwork for the Global Research Alliance in Symptom Science (GRASS) was established.
Conclusions:
- GRASS is dedicated to advancing symptom science in cancer and chronic conditions.
- Future directions include regular meetings, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with scientists.
- Nurses are central to the alliance's mission of implementing symptom science into practice.
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