Effectiveness of a symptom network–based core symptom management program on symptom burden in lung cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of a symptom network-based core symptom management program targeting fatigue, cough, and dyspnea on symptom burden, symptom management self-efficacy, and quality of life in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery. METHOD: This parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province, China, between March and December 2024. A total of 114 patients were randomly assigned to receive standard perioperative care or a symptom network-based core symptom management program, and 99 participants completed all three assessments. Outcomes included overall symptom burden, core symptom severity, symptom management self-efficacy, and quality of life, assessed at admission, discharge, and one month postoperatively. Group, time, and group × time effects were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Significant group, time, and group × time effects were observed for overall symptom burden and core symptoms (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the intervention group reported lower overall symptom burden and core symptom severity at discharge and one month postoperatively. Symptom management self-efficacy improved significantly (P < 0.001), with improvements also observed across multiple quality-of-life domains. CONCLUSIONS: The symptom network-based core symptom management program was associated with reduced symptom burden, improved symptom management self-efficacy, and enhanced quality of life among patients undergoing lung cancer surgery. These findings support the clinical value of targeting network-identified core symptoms in perioperative symptom management.