Fatigue in Gynecological Cancer Patients During and After Anticancer Treatment
Accepted 13 July 2009. published online 08 December 2009.
Abstract
Context
Research has indicated that individuals with gynecological cancer experience severe fatigue.
Objectives
This longitudinal survey aimed to analyze the fatigue experienced over the course of one year by a gynecological cancer population, to determine if the fatigue was more severe than that reported by females without cancer, and to identify variables associated with cancer-related fatigue (CRF).
Methods
Data were collected over a 12-month period before, during, and after anticancer treatment. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form. Participants with cancer also completed the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist.
Results
Sixty-five cancer patients (mean age = 57.4 years, standard deviation [SD] = 13.9) and 60 control subjects (mean age = 55.4 years, SD = 13.6) participated. Descriptive analysis and repeated measurements modeling indicated that the cancer participants reported worse fatigue than the noncancer individuals before, during, and after anticancer treatment (P < 0.001) and that the level of fatigue in persons with cancer changed with time (P = 0.02). A forward stepwise regression demonstrated that psychological distress level was the only independent predictor of CRF during anticancer treatment (P < 0.00), explaining 44% of the variance in fatigue. After treatment, both psychological distress level (P < 0.00) and physical symptom distress (P = 0.03) were independent predictors of fatigue, accounting for 81% of the variance.
Conclusion
Psychological distress level is an important indicator of CRF in gynecological cancer. Interventions focused on the reduction of psychological distress may help alleviate CRF.
aInstitute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom
bHealth and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom
cNorthern Ireland Cancer Centre, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, United Kingdom
dDepartment of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
Address correspondence to: Gillian Prue, PhD, Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom.
Financial support was provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Recognized Research Group.
ABSTRACT