학술논문
ancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients under chemotherapy
Document Type
article
Source
Majallah-i ̒Ilmī-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Simnān, Vol 11, Iss 04, Pp 317-322 (2010)
Subject
Language
Persian
ISSN
1608-7046
Abstract
Introduction: Fatigue is a common and frequently disabling symptom in cancer patients. Fatigue maybe caused by the disease itself, by treatment for the disease, by physical symptoms or conditions resultingfrom the disease or its treatment. The aim of this study was to assess fatigue and related factors in breastcancer patients.Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 119 random samples of breast cancerpatients. The Iranian version of QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires were used. Univariate methodsand multiple regression analysis were performed to identify predictors of fatigue.Results: Overall, 78% of the patients indicated that they were experiencing fatigue to some degree.The mean score on the fatigue subscale was 41.74±26.91.Of all functional subscales, fatigue showed thestrongest influence on social functioning. Linear regression analyses showed that total fatigue was bestpredicted by pain, appetite loss, body image and type of treatment.Conclusion: Our results support the notion that fatigue in cancer patients is a major problem, whichdeserves yet more attention from health professionals, and that quality of life in cancer patients might beimproved markedly by interventions that effectively reduce fatigue.