title: Predictors of the trajectories of self-reported attentional fatigue in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine how attentional fatigue changed from the time of simulation to four months after the completion of radiation therapy and to investigate whether specific variables predicted initial levels and trajectories of attentional fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two radiation therapy departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  73 women with breast cancer who received primary or adjuvant radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed questionnaires prior to, during, and after radiation therapy. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear modeling were used for data analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Attentional fatigue; demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Large amounts of interindividual variability were found in the trajectories of attentional fatigue. At baseline, higher levels of attentional fatigue were associated with younger age, not working, a higher number of comorbidities, and higher levels of trait anxiety. The trajectory of attentional fatigue improved over time for women with higher body mass index at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to identify predictors of interindividual variability in attentional fatigue in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy. The predictors should be considered in the design of future correlational and interventional studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses could use knowledge of the predictors to identify patients at risk for higher levels of attentional fatigue. In addition, nurses could use the information to educate patients about how attentional fatigue may change during and following radiation therapy for breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Merriman
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koetters
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Marylin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Bradley E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Aouizerat
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wara
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miaskowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires