Relationship between fatigue and nutritional status in patients receiving radiation therapy to treat lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the relationship between fatigue and nutritional status in patients receiving radiation therapy for lung cancer.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
Radiation therapy department of a large mid-western cancer center.


METHODS
45 adults with primary cancer of the lung receiving outpatient primary or adjuvant radiation therapy.


METHODS
Measurements taken before radiation therapy, at week four of treatment, and at completion included the Piper Fatigue Scale, prealbumin levels, and weights.


METHODS
Fatigue, nutritional status.


RESULTS
Weight loss over the course of treatment was significant but did not correlate with fatigue; fatigue did not change significantly during the measurement period.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue and nutrition are major problems for patients with lung cancer, but nutritional changes do not correlate with fatigue. An increase in fatigue during radiation therapy was not identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses should continue efforts to intervene with the problems of nutrition and fatigue. The study should be repeated using different fatigue Instruments and with other cancer populations.
Beach
P
P
St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA. patricia_1_beach@mhsnr.org
Siebeneck
B
B
Buderer
N F
NF
Ferner
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015431:Weight Loss
D011228:Prealbumin