Nursing Interventions for Symptom Management in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nursing Science
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Breast cancer is a prevalent global cancer in women, significantly impacting physical and psychological health.
• Treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often lead to debilitating symptoms such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
• These treatment-related symptoms substantially reduce patients' quality of life (QoL) and overall well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify effective nursing interventions for managing symptoms in breast cancer patients.
• To evaluate the impact of nursing interventions on the physical and psychological well-being of breast cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2002 and 2025 was conducted.
• Searches were performed across four major electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, and SAGE Journals.
• Keywords included 'breast cancer,' 'symptom management,' and 'nursing interventions' to identify relevant studies.

Main Results:

• Eighteen studies involving 3,937 patients met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Nursing interventions were categorized into psychological/behavioral, care coordination, and physical/educational domains.
• These interventions demonstrated significant alleviation of both physical and psychological symptoms, enhancing patient well-being and QoL.

Conclusions:

• Nursing interventions are crucial for effective symptom management and improving the QoL for breast cancer patients.
• Psychologically focused interventions and coordinated nurse-led care yielded the most substantial benefits.
• Further research is recommended to refine and validate these interventions for diverse clinical settings, emphasizing comprehensive, patient-centered care.