Pain and fatigue management: results of a nursing randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Through a randomized clinical trial, to compare patients undergoing an initial course of chemotherapy who report pain and fatigue at baseline and who are receiving conventional care alone with those receiving conventional care plus a nursing intervention on outcomes reported at 20 weeks.


METHODS
Chemotherapy clinics of two comprehensive and two community cancer centers.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted at baseline and 10 and 20 weeks. An 18-week, 10-contact nursing intervention utilizing problem-solving approaches to symptom management and improving physical functioning and emotional health was implemented.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 53 patients in the experimental arm and 60 in the control arm who reported pain and fatigue at baseline.


METHODS
Pain and fatigue, numbers of other symptoms, and physical role impact and social-functioning subscales from the Medical Outcomes Study 36 Short Form.


RESULTS
Patients who received the intervention reported a significant reduction in the number of symptoms experienced and improved physical and social functioning. Fewer patients in the experimental arm reported both pain and fatigue at 20 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral interventions targeted to patients with pain and fatigue can reduce symptom burden, improve the quality of the daily life of patients, and demonstrate the "value-added" role of nursing care for patients undergoing chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the "value-added" role of nursing interventions for symptom management and improved quality of life during the course of cancer treatment.
Given
Barbara
B
College of Nursing and Institute for Health Care Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. Barb.Given@ht.msu.edu
Given
Charles W
CW
McCorkle
Ruth
R
Kozachik
Sharon
S
Cimprich
Bernadine
B
Rahbar
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Wojcik
Chris
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents