title: A brief intervention for fatigue management in breast cancer survivors.
abstract: The purpose of this randomized control trial was to verify the effectiveness of a brief group intervention that combines stress management psycho-education and physical activity (ie, independent variable) intervention in reducing fatigue and improving energy level, quality of life (mental and physical), fitness (VO 2submax), and emotional distress (ie, dependent variables) in breast cancer survivors. This study applied Lazarus and Folkman stress-coping theoretical framework, as well as Salmon's unifying theory of physical activity. Eighty-seven French-speaking women who had completed their treatments for nonmetastatic breast cancer at a university hospital in Quebec City, Canada, were randomly assigned to either the group intervention (experimental) or the usual-care (control) condition. Data were collected at baseline, postintervention, and at 3-month follow-up. The 4-week group intervention was cofacilitated by 2 nurses. Results showed that participants in the intervention group showed greater improvement in fatigue, energy level, and emotional distress at 3-month follow-up, and physical quality of life at postintervention, compared with the participants in the control group. These results suggest that a brief psycho-educational group intervention focusing on active coping strategies and physical activity is beneficial to cancer survivors after breast cancer treatments.
authors.affiliation: Laval University, Faculty of Nursing, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. lise.fillion@fsi.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fillion
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leblond
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gélinas
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savard
authors.forename: Réjeanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dupuis
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larochelle
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004522:Educational Status; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors