Cancer-related fatigue(CRF) is a common symptom reported by cancer patients. Management is difficult because CRF is thought to have a variety of causes and no single intervention is likely to benefit all patients.
Aim: this study considered the efficacy of a group program utilising behaviour change strategies for increasing quality of life and reducing fatigue in cancer patients
Method: 24 cancer patients with a range of cancers and at varying stages in their treatment pathways, were recruited by advertising the program through multidisciplinary networks,. Three groups of patients completed the 6-week fatigue management program, developed by the psychosocial team to include both education and behaviour change components. 18 patients attended at least 4 of the 6 weeks of the program.
Outcome measures were the Quality of Life and Fatigue Scale(EORTC-C30, version 3), completed pre- and post-group, a group evalution, and a structured telephone interview 6 weeks after the completion of the group.
Results: 14 patients completed all pre- and post-measures. Significant differences were found for Quality of Life (p=0.0034) and Fatigue(p=0.0479). There were no significant differences for Physical Functioning.
The group evaluations were very positive, with the majority indicating that they "Strongly Agreed" and "Agreed" that the group was well run, informative and relevant.
Thematic analysis of the telephone interviews and group evaluations indicated overall improvment in patients' quality of life through the application of newly acquired skills and strategies to manage CRF. Patients also reported changes in their perception of fatigue as something which is manageable as opposed to insurmountable.
Conclusions: these preliminary findings support continued research into the efficacy of behaviour change strategies for the management of CRF.
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