Assessing fatigue and self-care strategies in patients receiving radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancer represents a major public health problem worldwide (ISD 2000) with approximately 80% of patients presenting with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Treatment is essentially palliative; therefore, symptom management is important. This paper describes the findings from a prospective study of fatigue in newly diagnosed patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Fifty-three patients undergoing radical or high-dose palliative radiotherapy for Stage I, II and III disease were recruited to the study. Patients completed a structured health diary throughout radiotherapy and for up to 1 month post-treatment. Tape-recorded interviews were conducted with a sub-sample (n=11) to explore the nature of fatigue. Complete data sets were available on 46 patients. Consistent with current literature, the study findings demonstrated the progressive nature of this symptom throughout treatment; however, the levels of distress reported and interference with daily living were not found to be as overwhelming in this group of patients as the literature thus far suggests.
Borthwick
Diana
D
Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Western General Hospital, UK
Knowles
Gillian
G
McNamara
Shanne
S
Dea
Rita O'
RO
Stroner
Paul
P
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004739:England; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires