Cancer‐related fatigue and self‐care agency: A multicentre survey of patients receiving chemotherapy

Abstract

Aims and objectives To measure cancer‐related fatigue (CRF), self‐care agency (SCA) and fatigue self‐care strategies, and to explore the relationship between CRF and SCA. Background Cancer‐related fatigue has been consistently rated as the most elusive, common and severe of symptoms that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience. Despite its frequency and severity, CRF is poorly managed. A renewed focus on supporting self‐care among patients with cancer has been found to reduce symptom burden, empower patients and improve patient satisfaction. Understanding the link between self‐care agency (i.e. capability and willingness to self‐care) and CRF levels will help practitioners to better support individuals on the cancer journey. Design A descriptive, correlational survey design was employed. Methods Patients (n = 362) undergoing chemotherapy with a primary diagnosis of breast, colorectal, Hodgkin's and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma cancers were recruited from four oncology centres in one city in the South of Ireland. Participants completed the Piper Fatigue Scale‐Revised, Appraisal of Self‐care Agency Scale and a researcher‐developed Fatigue Self‐Care Survey. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between CRF and self‐care agency using a dichotomous dependent variable score of four as the cut‐off between those deemed to be fatigued (≥4) and those not fatigued (<4). As recommended by the EQUATOR Network, the STROBE checklist of items for cross‐sectional studies is used to report the study. Results The incidence of CRF was high with 75% of participants scoring clinically relevant CRF. Higher SCA (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93–0.99, p = .011) was associated with decreased odds of developing CRF. Having non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.29–7.07, p = .011) was associated with increased odds of developing CRF. Conclusions Patient's undergoing chemotherapy experience significant fatigue. Higher capability for self‐care is associated with lower fatigue. The promotion of SCA and self‐care strategies can impact on CRF. Relevance to clinical practice Understanding the link between self‐care abilities and fatigue can lead to more individualised and tailored approaches to CRF.

Cancer‐related fatigue in hospitalised patients treated for lymphoma and its burden on family caregivers

“…In the present study, 69% of the lymphoma patients experienced fatigue. A previous study also highlighted that the odds of experiencing fatigue were three times among lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy compared to those with other types of cancers (O'Regan et al, 2019). Additionally, approximately 19% of patients complained of severe fatigue in the current study.…”

“…Several prior studies have shown that CRF in cancer patients has a serious negative impact on physical and psychological well-being (Bevans & Sternberg, 2012;O'Regan et al, 2019), thus affecting the overall quality of life. Similar results were reported in a survey conducted in the United States on 379 cancer patients; 91% of the participants claimed that fatigue impacted their normal life (Curt et al, 2000).…”

“…According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (Network, 2021), CRF is a distressing, persistent, and subjective sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer and/or cancer treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and interferes with usual functioning. Previous studies investigating CRF across different types of cancers concluded that lymphoma patients during chemotherapy are more likely to experience fatigue than other types of cancer patients (O'Regan et al, 2019;O'Regan & Hegarty, 2017). Moreover, studies suggest that CRF tends to persist even after years of successful treatment among lymphoma survivors (Busson et al, 2019), affecting all aspects of patients' lives.…”

Gambaran Rerata Kelelahan pada Pasien Kanker yang Menjalani Kemoterapi

“…Kelelahan perilaku merupakan penurunan fungsional yang dapat mempengaruhi kualitas hidup. Kelelahan pada pasien kanker dapat berdampak pada perilaku perawatan diri pasien (O'Regan et al, 2019). Wang et al, (2020) menggambarkan bahwa kemampuan perawatan diri yang baik dikaitkan dengan kelelahan yang lebih rendah.…”

BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Reduces the Fatigue-Like Effects of 5-Fluorouracil on Voluntary Wheel-Running Activity in Mice

“…Cancer treatments can produce debilitating symptoms that have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life. The most common, severe, and consistently reported side effect of chemotherapy is fatigue ( O’Regan et al, 2019 ), which is defined as a sense of tiredness or exhaustion that is not proportional to activity nor sleep. No approved therapies for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) have been developed, in part because the etiology explaining the development of the symptom is poorly understood.…”