Original Article
Longitudinal study on cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients during comprehensive treatment period
Meifang Wang, Wanxia Yao
Published 2017-02-06
Cite as Chin J Mod Nurs, 2017, 23(4): 466-470. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-2907.2017.04.006
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the level of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and its trajectory in three different periods including operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy among breast cancer patients, in order to provide references for clinical intervention during comprehensive treatment period.
MethodsBy convenience sampling method, 242 cases of patients diagnosed with breast cancer who are prepared for breast cancer resection, prepared to be treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and conformed to the sample standard from a tumor hospital and two affiliated hospitals of medical college from February 2014 to November 2015 in a city were selected as the research object. The follow-up survey of CRF was conducted respectively in the three different point-in-time for one week after operation, and at the end of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in order to analyze variation characteristics of CRF during comprehensive treatment period.
ResultsIn operation period, the fatigue of breast cancer patients was mild, the average scores was (2.59±2.41) and approximately 76% patients experienced fatigue to low-grade degree; After chemotherapy, the fatigue level of patients was significantly increased (6.57±2.43) , and 75.2% patients were accounted for severe fatigue; After radiotherapy, the fatigue level of patients (4.38±2.46) was slightly declined compared with that in chemotherapy period, but it was still higher than that in the operation period. and 57% patients suffered from moderate fatigue. During the whole treatment period, the level for general fatigue and four dimensions of fatigue were in the unstable state of "wave" of fluctuations with mild, severe, moderate (F=43.16, P<0.001) .
ConclusionsThere is a certain difference with CRF of breast cancer patients at different stage of comprehensive treatment. CRF in operation period is mild, in radiotherapy period is moderate and in chemotherapy period is severe. We should actively focus on the changes of CRF in order to take timely intervention.
Key words:
Breast neoplasms; Cancer-related fatigue; Longitudinal studies
Contributor Information
Meifang Wang
City College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710018, China
Wanxia Yao
Medical College of Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an 710125, China
