Symptom management refers to alleviating and eliminating symptoms that affect a patient’s life and the resulting suffering to improve the patient’s quality of life (QOL).

Symptoms are subjective experiences that reflect changes in physiological, psychological, and social aspects regarding one’s functioning, sensations, and cognitions. In symptom management, nursing staff first seek to understand the symptoms the patient is experiencing, understand the mechanism and manifestation of the symptoms, and understand how the patient experiences the symptoms. In addition to providing professional assistance to alleviate symptoms and suffering, nursing staff provide information and psychological support so that patients can independently alleviate and eliminate symptoms, supporting them to improve their self-care. Nursing staff also have the role of evaluating the process and results of symptom management. Strategies for dealing with symptoms include diet therapy, exercise therapy, drug therapy, psychotherapy, surgical treatment, relaxation, and stress management, among others, and coping strategies are evaluated and changed depending on the progress and situation.

Symptom management includes the patient’s initiative in dealing with the symptoms and the support received from carers and the people around them. Nursing staff aim to address patients’ symptoms and assist them in improving and maintaining their health across all domains of their lives; this is achieved by working in collaboration with patients, families, and other professionals.

• Izumi, S. (2006). Symptom management model by nurses: Understanding of symptom experiences and strategies for nurses mainly for cancer patients. Nursing Research, 39(3), 167–179.
• Larson, P. (1997). Symptom management: Roles and responsibilities of nurses. International Nursing Review, 20(4), 29–37.
• UCSF Symptom Management Faculty Group. (1997). A model for symptom management. International Nursing Review, 20(4), 22–28.
• Nightingale, F. (2003). Collection of nursing essays: What is health? What is illness? What is nursing? (Usui, D., & Kodama, K., Trans.). Gendaisha.
• Okado, T. (1987). Series patient/family psychology and nursing care (1): Illness and human behavior. Chuohoki Publishing.
• Yamaguchi, K. (Supervisor). (2000). New edition atlas of diseases. Kodansha.