symptomtargeted

Symptom-targeted care, also referred to as symptom-targeted management, is a clinical approach that emphasizes relief of a patient’s distressing symptoms over modifying the underlying disease process. The goal is to improve comfort, function, and quality of life, particularly when disease-modifying therapies are limited, uncertain, or consistent with patient goals. It is used across settings, including palliative care, primary care, and acute care, and can accompany disease-directed treatment or stand alone.

Practices focus on identifying the most burdensome symptoms and selecting interventions intended to mitigate them. Common targets include pain, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, cough, constipation, anxiety, insomnia, and agitation. Interventions may be pharmacological, such as analgesics, antiemetics, bronchodilators, or sedatives; nonpharmacological measures such as positioning, hydration, breath training, environmental adjustments; and procedural or device-based measures when appropriate.

Symptom-targeted care is central to palliative and supportive care philosophies and is often integrated with disease-modifying therapies when desired by patients. Limitations include the potential to overlook underlying pathology, the risk of polypharmacy, and the need for ongoing reassessment of goals. The term serves as a descriptive concept rather than a formal medical specialty.

See also: palliative care, symptom management, supportive care.