Advancing Global Cancer Symptom Science: Insights and Strategies From the Inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert...

Area of Science:

• Symptom science research
• Oncology
• Chronic disease management

Background:

• The inaugural Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting convened 40 nurse scientists from seven countries in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• The meeting focused on enhancing global collaboration, identifying research gaps, and strategizing to accelerate international symptom science.
• Discussions included the co-occurrence of cancer with other chronic conditions and shared underlying mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize discussions and recommendations from the Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting.
• To introduce the Global Research Alliance in Symptom Science (GRASS).

Main Methods:

• Presentations highlighted critical issues and unanswered questions in cancer symptom science and chronic conditions.
• Four core topic areas were identified based on knowledge gaps.
• Four working groups (WGs) were formed to identify gaps, opportunities, and strategic actions.

Main Results:

• WG1: Recommendations on optimal collection, analysis, and use of symptom data.
• WG2: Development of a minimum dataset or common data model for symptom science.
• WG3: Enhancement of implementation science strategies for clinical practice.
• WG4: Capacity building and infrastructure for the Global Research Alliance in Symptom Science (GRASS).

Conclusions:

• WG recommendations demonstrate international commitment to advancing symptom science.
• The meeting laid the groundwork for establishing GRASS, a global research alliance.
• Future directions include regular meetings, interprofessional collaboration, and engagement with symptom scientists.