ABSTRACT
Symptom control remains a key concern for people living with long-term conditions and is a cornerstone indicator of good-quality healthcare intervention and management. However, the area is complex, multi-modal and interactional, with many factors impacting on individual experience of symptoms including the physical aspects of the pathology itself and the uniqueness of each person which will inevitably shape the experience and perceptions of symptoms. This chapter will explore the main salient dimensions influencing the experience of symptoms and identifies the elements which healthcare professionals need to be aware of in order to enhance and optimise individual mastery of health problems and reduce overall disease burden.
