Colomer-Lahiguera Sara, Pozzar Rachel A, Harris Carolyn S, Brant Jeannine M, Conley Yvette P, Cooley Mary E, Eicher Manuela, Hinds Pamela S, Howell Doris, Mitchell Sandra A, Ribi Karin, Rosenzweig Margaret Quinn, Wesmiller Susan W, Miaskowski Christine, Hammer Marilyn J
Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Institute of Higher Education and Research in Health Care, Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Semin Oncol Nurs. 2025 Aug;41(4):151905. doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2025.151905. Epub 2025 Aug 5.
The inaugural "Cancer Symptom Science Expert Meeting," held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 11 to 12, 2023, brought together 40 nurse scientists from seven countries. The event aimed to enhance collaboration across the global symptom science community; identify common research interests, gaps in knowledge, and opportunities for research; and develop strategies to address challenges and accelerate symptom science research internationally. This White Paper summarizes the discussions and recommendations deliberated during the meeting and introduces the Global Research Alliance in Symptom Science (GRASS).
This 2-day meeting featured presentations that highlighted critical issues and unanswered questions in cancer symptom science. Four core topic areas based on knowledge gaps were reflected throughout presentations. The co-occurrence of cancer with other chronic conditions (eg, cardiovascular disease, diabetes) that may share similar contributors and underlying mechanisms were included. Four working groups (WGs) were formed to identify gaps and opportunities associated with each topic and to outline strategic directions and essential actions to advance symptom science.
WGs developed four recommendations. WG1 explored optimal approaches to collect, analyze, and use symptom data for research and clinical purposes. WG2 addressed the development of a minimum dataset or common data model for symptom science. WG3 focused on enhancement of best practices in implementation science strategies to improve uptake of evidence-based symptom management in routine care. WG4 addressed capacity building and infrastructure for the creation of a GRASS.
WGs' recommendations underscore the commitment of an international coalition of scientists to advance symptom science. The symposium established the groundwork for the development of GRASS, dedicated to symptom science in cancer and other chronic conditions. Future directions include establishing regular scientific meetings, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and engaging with symptom scientists.
GRASS is an alliance for symptom science and its implementation into clinical practice. Nurses are at the forefront of this work.
2023年10月11日至12日在瑞士洛桑举行的首届“癌症症状科学专家会议”汇聚了来自七个国家的40名护士科学家。该活动旨在加强全球症状科学界的合作；确定共同的研究兴趣、知识差距和研究机会；并制定应对挑战的策略，加速国际症状科学研究。本白皮书总结了会议期间的讨论和建议，并介绍了全球症状科学研究联盟（GRASS）。
为期两天的会议上的报告突出了癌症症状科学中的关键问题和未解决的问题。在整个报告中反映了基于知识差距的四个核心主题领域。癌症与其他可能有相似促成因素和潜在机制的慢性病（如心血管疾病、糖尿病）的共病情况也包括在内。成立了四个工作组（WG），以确定与每个主题相关的差距和机会，并概述推进症状科学的战略方向和基本行动。
工作组提出了四项建议。工作组1探讨了收集、分析和使用症状数据用于研究和临床目的的最佳方法。工作组2讨论了症状科学最小数据集或通用数据模型的开发。工作组3专注于加强实施科学策略中的最佳实践，以提高循证症状管理在常规护理中的应用。工作组4讨论了创建GRASS的能力建设和基础设施问题。
工作组的建议强调了国际科学家联盟推进症状科学的承诺。该研讨会为GRASS的发展奠定了基础，GRASS致力于癌症和其他慢性病的症状科学研究。未来的方向包括定期召开科学会议、促进跨学科合作以及与症状科学家互动。
GRASS是一个将症状科学及其应用于临床实践的联盟。护士处于这项工作的前沿。
