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Multivariate methods to identify cancer‐related symptom clusters
Author(s) -
Skerman Helen M.,
Yates Patsy M.,
Battistutta Diana
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.20323
Subject(s) - psycinfo , multivariate statistics , multivariate analysis , identification (biology) , cinahl , cluster (spacecraft) , medline , medicine , psychology , clinical psychology , computer science , psychiatry , machine learning , psychological intervention , botany , political science , law , biology , programming language
Multivariate methods are required to assess the interrelationships among multiple, concurrent symptoms. We examined the conceptual and contextual appropriateness of commonly used multivariate methods for cancer symptom cluster identification. From 178 publications identified in an online database search of Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, limited to articles published in English, 10 years prior to March 2007, 13 cross‐sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. Conceptually, common factor analysis (FA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) are appropriate for symptom cluster identification, not principal component analysis. As a basis for new directions in symptom management, FA methods are more appropriate than HCA. Principal axis factoring or maximum likelihood factoring, the scree plot, oblique rotation, and clinical interpretation are recommended approaches to symptom cluster identification. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:345–360, 2009