Relationship between latent profiles of symptom characteristics and supportive care needs in postoperative breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

ObjectiveTo analyze the latent profiles and influencing factors of symptom characteristics in postoperative breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy,and to explore the relationship between different symptom profiles and supportive care needs.MethodsA total of 302 postoperative breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy from November 2023 to August 2024 were selected from three tertiary Grade A hospitals in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.A general information questionnaire,the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale,and the 34⁃item Short⁃Form Supportive Care Needs Survey were used for investigation.Latent profile analysis was employed to identify potential profiles of symptom characteristics.Univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of different profiles and their relationship with supportive care needs.ResultsThe symptom characteristics of postoperative breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy could be categorized into three latent profiles:a low⁃symptom burden group(54.3%),a moderate⁃symptom burden⁃gastrointestinal symptoms group(28.5%),and a high⁃symptom burden group(17.2%).Body Mass Index(BMI),number of comorbidities,number of chemotherapy cycles,and whether targeted therapy was used,psychological needs,care and support needs were identified as influencing factors for the symptom characteristics across different profiles(P