Strategy of coping with end-stage disease and cancer-related fatigue in terminally ill patients.
The aim was to investigate whether there is a relationship between strategy of coping with end-stage disease and cancer-related fatigue. The study was conducted using the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale to specify patient's strategy of coping. Finally, 51 hospice care patients with cancer were analyzed.


RESULTS
The majority of responders adopted 1 of the 2 styles; avoidance (belongs to adaptive coping) or anxious preoccupation (destructive or maladaptive). Less often moderate fatalism and helpless/hopeless (H/H) or fighting spirit were observed. Significant correlation has been found between H/H or fatalism strategy and fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
High level of fatigue had a negative impact on almost all aspects of daily living among people with H/H or fatalism strategy.
Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland aleksandra.modlinska@gumed.edu.pl.
Aleksandra
A
Modlińska
Faculty of Health Sciences with Subfaculty of Nursing, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland.
Bożena
B
Kowalik
Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland.
Tomasz
T
Buss
Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland.
Justyna
J
Janiszewska
Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland.
Monika
M
Lichodziejewska-Niemierko
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011044:Poland; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*
adjustment to cancer; coping strategy; end of life; fatigue; palliative care; terminally ill