The effectiveness of nursing education as an intervention to decrease fatigue in Turkish patients receiving chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a nurse-led educational intervention decreased the perception of fatigue in patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers (colon, stomach, liver, rectum, pancreas) who were receiving chemotherapy for the first time.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental, descriptive.


METHODS
Outpatient department in a large university hospital in Izmir, Turkey.


METHODS
35 patients receiving chemotherapy for GI cancers.


METHODS
Baseline demographic data were collected using a personal information form developed by the researchers. Fatigue and quality of life (QOL) were then assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ C-30) scale before their first cycle of chemotherapy, on the 10th day after (T1), and again 10 days after the second cycle of chemotherapy (T2). Patients received an individual educational intervention at baseline, T1, and T2 based on the results of their fatigue assessment in accordance with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) cancer-related fatigue guidelines. Patients were given an educational booklet on fatigue prior to treatment and symptom specific booklets as required at T1 and T2.


METHODS
Subjective reports of patients' fatigue and QOL.


RESULTS
Patients' mean fatigue scores showed a statistically significant decrease and their EORTC QLQC-30 scores were better at T1 and T2 compared with baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurse-led educational interventions have the potential to reduce fatigue in patients with GI cancer receiving chemotherapy for the first time.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of chemotherapy should be preceded by a formal fatigue assessment and the provision of individually tailored educational interventions to reduce the severity of fatigue and improve QOL.
Yesilbalkan
Oznur Usta
OU
School of Nursing, Department of Medical Nursing, University in Izmir, Turkey. oznurustayesilbalkan@yahoo.com.tr
Karadakovan
Ayfer
A
Göker
Erdem
E
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010045:Outpatients; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents