title: Factors related to persistent fatigue following completion of breast cancer treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the predictive capacity of the stress-process theory to emeanplain persistent fatigue following completion of breast cancer treatments; to verify the relationship between interleukin-1b and fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary medical center in Quebec City, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic sample of 103 women in remission from breast cancer was recruited. The mean age was 54 years. Participants with a depressive mood, insomnia, or stage IV cancer were emeancluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were met during their follow-up appointment after the end of radiation therapy. Questionnaires on fatigue, stress variables, and other confounding variables were completed by telephone interview. Blood samples also were collected to measure the serum level of interleukin-1b.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fatigue, several variables from the stress-process theory, pain, menopausal symptoms, and demographic and medical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatigue was related theoretically and coherently to many stress-process variables. By controlling for pain, the final regression model included cancer stressors and passive and active coping as predictors, which accounted for 41% of the variance in fatigue. No relationship was found between fatigue and interleukin-1b.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results supported the relevance of the stress-process theory for emeanplaining cancer-related fatigue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing interventions based on this theoretical framework could be developed. In addition, further clinical research that tests the efficacy of these psycho-educative interventions in preventing persistent fatigue and improving the quality of life of women with breast cancer is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gélinas
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fillion
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000451:nursing; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1