title: Cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients after surgery: a multicomponent model using partial least squares-path modeling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to examine factors contributing to cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty women (mean age: 50.0) completed self-rated questionnaires assessing components of CRF, muscular and cognitive functions. Also, physiological and subjective data were gathered. Data were analyzed using partial least squares variance-based structural equation modeling in order to examine factors contributing to CRF after breast surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tested model was robust in terms of its measurement quality (reliability and validity). According to the structural model results, emotional distress (β = 0.59; p < 0.001), pain (β = 0.23; p < 0.05), and altered vigilance (β = 0.30; p < 0.05) were associated with CRF, accounting for 61% of the explained variance. Also, emotional distress (β = 0.41; p < 0.05) and pain (β = 0.40; p < 0.05) were related to low physical function and accounted for 41% of the explained variance. However, the relationship between low physical function and CRF was weak and nonsignificant (β = 0.01; p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emotional distress, altered vigilance capacity, and pain are associated with CRF in postsurgical breast cancer. In addition, emotional distress and pain are related to diminished physical function, which, in turn, has no significant impact on CRF. The current model should be examined in subsequent phases of the treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) when side effects are more pronounced and may lead to increased intensity of CRF and low physical function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Epsylon EA 4556, University of Montpellier 1 and 3, Montpellier, France; University Department of Adult Psychiatry, La Colombière Hospital, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bortolon
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krikorian
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carayol
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brouillet
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romieu
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ninot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: breast cancer; distress; fatigue; oncology; physical function; structural equation model