Fatigue in gynecological cancer patients during and after anticancer treatment.
BACKGROUND
Research has indicated that individuals with gynecological cancer experience severe fatigue.


OBJECTIVE
This longitudinal survey aimed to analyze the fatigue experienced over the course of one year by a gynecological cancer population, to determine if the fatigue was more severe than that reported by females without cancer, and to identify variables associated with cancer-related fatigue (CRF).


METHODS
Data were collected over a 12-month period before, during, and after anticancer treatment. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form. Participants with cancer also completed the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist.


RESULTS
Sixty-five cancer patients (mean age = 57.4 years, standard deviation [SD] = 13.9) and 60 control subjects (mean age = 55.4 years, SD = 13.6) participated. Descriptive analysis and repeated measurements modeling indicated that the cancer participants reported worse fatigue than the noncancer individuals before, during, and after anticancer treatment (P < 0.001) and that the level of fatigue in persons with cancer changed with time (P = 0.02). A forward stepwise regression demonstrated that psychological distress level was the only independent predictor of CRF during anticancer treatment (P < 0.00), explaining 44% of the variance in fatigue. After treatment, both psychological distress level (P < 0.00) and physical symptom distress (P = 0.03) were independent predictors of fatigue, accounting for 81% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychological distress level is an important indicator of CRF in gynecological cancer. Interventions focused on the reduction of psychological distress may help alleviate CRF.
Prue
Gillian
G
Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom. ge.prue@ulster.ac.uk
Allen
James
J
Gracey
Jacqueline
J
Rankin
Jane
J
Cramp
Fiona
F
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents