Cancer-Related Fatigue – Clinical Evaluation Scales and Interventions: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most frequent and prevalent symptoms expressed by cancer patients and cancer survivors. It is a multifactorial phenomenon that causes a direct detrimental impact on quality of life. Objectives: This systematic review aims to identify different clinical evaluation scales and interventions available for fatigue associated with cancer. Materials and Methods: A methodology of the systematic literature review was carried out. Two separate databases PubMed and Google Scholar searches were performed using different MeSH terms. Results: A total of 2611 research articles were screened and identified 10 unidimensional scales (four with one item scales and six with numerous item scales) and 13 multidimensional scales which are available for the screening and clinical evaluation of fatigue. Reviews have also revealed non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise, complementary therapies, nutritional and psychoeducational interventions, sleep therapy, energy therapy, bright white light, restorative therapies upcoming anthroposophical medicine, and various pharmacological agents effective in managing CRF. Conclusion: Clinical evaluation of fatigue and its management is crucial for improving the quality of life. Yet, more rigorous research studies with higher statistical power need to be conducted on these interventions to generate adequate evidences for managing the CRF.

Cancer-Related Fatigue in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: Longitudinal Findings from the Head and Neck 5000 Prospective Clinical Cohort

“…It is important to be cognisant of the probability of functional impairments occurring alongside CRF, which implies that patients will likely need coordinated support and complex interventions from a range of healthcare professionals to help them manage a constellation of longer-term treatment side-effects. In relation to screening for CRF specifically, a standardised tool could be used either in the pre-or post-treatment setting, and there are many available [54]. It may also be of value to seek to distinguish between those patients for whom significant fatigue arose for the first time following the cancer diagnosis and/or treatment and those who experienced significant fatigue pre-cancer; it is possible that these groups may benefit from different interventions or mitigation strategies.…”

Associations among hearing loss, multiple co-occurring symptoms, and quality of life outcomes in cancer survivors

“…In fact, clinically meaningful decrements in morning and evening energy were reported by 72.1% and 67.7% of the sample, respectively. While research on fatigue in oncology patients and survivors is relatively common [ 55 – 57 ], a growing body of evidence suggests that energy is a distinct symptom from fatigue [ 58 – 60 ]. Energy can be defined as an individual’s potential to perform physical and mental activities [ 60 ].…”