A patient education program is effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue: a multi-centre randomised two-group waiting-list controlled intervention trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a patient education program that aims at reducing perceived fatigue in cancer survivors.


METHODS
In ten German centres, 261 patients with cancer-related fatigue were randomly assigned to a patient education program consisting of 6 sessions à 90 min or standard care. The primary outcome measure was cancer-related fatigue. Data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures.


RESULTS
Patients in the intervention group showed statistically significant reduction in cancer-related fatigue (F = 76.510, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.248). Secondary outcomes also showed significant improvements in all measures, including quality of life (F = 29.607, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.113), general self-efficacy (F = 27.680, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.107), exercise self-efficacy (F = 49.230, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.175), physical activity (F = 8.036, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.033), anxiety (F = 33.194, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.125), depression (F = 24.604, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.096), and fatigue knowledge (F = 55.157, p < 0.001, η(2) = 0.192).


CONCLUSIONS
The program was effective in reducing perceived fatigue as well as further outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
This newly developed education program has the potential to fill a gap in the care of cancer survivors. The program needs further evaluation in other countries employing a control group of patients receiving equal time and attention as the intervention group.
Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Germany.
Karl
K
Reif
Ulrike
U
de Vries
Franz
F
Petermann
Stefan
S
Görres
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors