Self-care strategies used by patients with lung cancer to promote quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To describe self-care strategies used by patients with lung cancer to promote quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
Qualitative study using a phenomenologic approach.


METHODS
Cancer clinics in central Texas.


METHODS
Purposive sampling was used to enroll 10 adults with lung cancer who had completed primary treatment within the prior two years.


METHODS
One-on-one, semistructured, audiotaped interviews were conducted.


METHODS
QOL and self-care strategies.


RESULTS
Participants identified family and social support, functional independence, physical well-being, and spirituality as important aspects of QOL. Participants identified fatigue as the factor most negatively affecting QOL. Self-care strategies identified to improve QOL were primarily related to fatigue management. Rest was the primary self-care strategy reportedly recommended by healthcare providers, but this strategy was ineffective. Helpful self-care strategies included budgeting time and energy, maintaining contact with family and friends for support, and prayer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study documents the negative effect of fatigue on QOL in patients with lung cancer. Use of rest to manage fatigue's pervasive negative effect on QOL is a common self-care strategy, reportedly recommended by healthcare providers, but is ineffective by itself to manage fatigue and improve QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare providers should assess self-care strategies used by patients with lung cancer to promote improved QOL. Because fatigue has a documented negative effect on QOL in patients with lung cancer, providers should encourage the use of multidimensional strategies that have been supported by research evidence to manage fatigue and improve QOL.
John
Lauri D
LD
School of Nursing, University of Texas, Arlington, TX, USA. ljohn@uta.edu
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D017748:Time Management