[Influencing factors for fatigue in cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify degrees of fatigue and influencing factors for fatigue in cancer patients.


METHODS
Data was collected by questionnaires from 115 cancer patients at 3 hospitals in Seoul. The research instruments utilized in this study were fatigue, physical symptoms, depression, family support, and health promoting behaviors. Data was analyzed using the pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 12.0.


RESULTS
The mean score of fatigue for cancer patients was 12.90(range: 6-36). Fatigue for cancer patients according to age group and weight change showed a significant difference. Fatigue for cancer patients showed a significantly positive correlation to physical symptoms and depression. There was a negative correlation between family support and health promoting behaviors. The significant factors influencing fatigue for cancer patients were physical symptoms, health promoting behaviors, depression, and age group, which explained about 45.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that symptoms and depression management, nursing interventions and practices for providing health promoting behaviors according to age are needed to manage the fatigue in cancer patients.
Choi
Jin Yi
JY
Kyung Hee University, Korea. jinred@empal.com
Kang
Hyun Sook
HS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003710:Demography; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires