Symptom clusters, associated factors and health‐related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A structural equation modelling analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify symptom clusters and develop a symptom cluster model among people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). BACKGROUND: The examination of symptom clusters in COPD patients is an emerging field of scientific inquiry directed towards symptom management. However, no studies have modelled the relationships among symptom clusters, associated factors and health‐related quality of life. DESIGN: A cross‐sectional design with convenience sampling following STROBE guidelines. METHODS: Data were collected from 450 COPD participants in three university teaching hospitals. Participants were invited to complete a structured questionnaire comprised of a socio‐demographic/clinical questionnaire, Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale and Clinical Respiratory Questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to identify symptom clusters. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the proposed model. RESULTS: The respiratory related symptom cluster, psychological symptom cluster and cough‐insomnia related symptom cluster were identified. The final model demonstrated a good fit with the data. Gender, stage of disease and monthly income were significant factors associated with symptom clusters. Respiratory related and cough‐insomnia related symptom clusters had a direct negative impact on health‐related quality of life, while the psychological symptom cluster was found to have a direct and indirect negative effect on health‐related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Final COPD symptom cluster model should serve as a framework to guide intervention research targeting symptom clusters to improve health‐related quality of life of people living with COPD. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses should be especially attuned to identify those at most risk of facing a higher symptom burden in this case those who are female, have advanced stage COPD and/or lower income. During the clinical symptom assessment, nurses should pay attention to the close relationships among symptoms within a cluster to identify any ‘trigger’ symptom that could cause the development or exacerbation of other symptoms.