title: Fatigue experience and coping strategies in Taiwanese lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore fatigue levels and fatigue-coping strategies in Taiwanese lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer is now recognized as one of the most common cancers in Taiwan, with a high prevalence of mortality. As chemotherapy progresses, fatigue is a common cause of symptom distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on demographic and disease-related characteristics were gathered from the medical record, and data on fatigue and coping strategies were gathered by questionnaires administered to 101 lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean fatigue score for the total sample was 8.0 (SD = 5.0, range = 0-20), indicating light-to-moderate fatigue. The majority of patients (n = 76, 75.2%) had a baseline haemoglobin level of <or=12 g/dl and a significantly greater (t = 2.7, p < 0.01) mean fatigue score (8.5 SD 4.6) than patients with haemoglobin >12 g/dl (6.2 SD 5.7). Fatigue levels were significantly higher in patients receiving a third course of chemotherapy than in those receiving a first course (F = 3.7, p = 0.03). The most commonly used management category was energy conservation (n = 659), and the most commonly used strategy was sitting (n = 101) and lying down (n = 98). However, participants rated exercise (mean = 3.9), sleep (mean = 3.8) and walking (mean = 3.6) as the most effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the management of fatigue problems in lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, especially in respecting patients' self-report of fatigue-management strategies. Relevance to clinical practice. Health care providers should carefully assess patients for fatigue while they are receiving chemotherapy. These patients and their caregivers should be taught to notice fatigue and encouraged to choose coping strategies that reduce fatigue level, thus improving their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Hong Cheng Company, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Hsiang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yeur-Hur
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents