title: Perceptions about cancer-related fatigue among cancer patients using Q methodology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common subjective feeling and disabling symptom complex experienced by patients with cancer. This study aimed to identify the subjective perceptions of Korean patients with cancer about CRF to help the development of basic intervention strategies for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Q methodology was used to examine the subjective perceptions of patients with cancer about CRF. Thirty-one patients with cancer, hospitalized at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea, were recruited into this study and classified 41 selected Q statements using a nine-point scale. Data were analysed using PC-QUANL for Windows.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed that distinct perceptions about CRF do exist among Korean patients with cancer. Three types of perceptions were identified: dominant self-reliance, positive-conformist and self-deprecating exhaustion. These three types explained 53.0% of the variance (40.2%, 8.2% and 4.6%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified three types of perceptions about CRF among Korean patients with cancer. These findings provide baseline data to develop customised interventions for caring strategies. This study also informs health professionals in other countries about the perceptions of Korean patients with cancer about CRF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Yoon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: eunice@kku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eun Ja
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Yeun
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eunmi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Baekseok University, Dongam-gu, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Misoon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D011779:Q-Sort; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer patients; Fatigue; Perception; Q methodology