Institute of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2012 Apr;16(2):165-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2011.05.002. Epub 2011 May 31.
Fatigue affects most chemotherapy recipients, who commonly experience it as distressing. Previous publications showed that cancer patients frequently lacked information and education regarding fatigue; and while most engaged in self-care activities, it remained unclear why they chose specific activities or how effective those were. We explored cancer chemotherapy recipients' current perspectives regarding fatigue, with particular attention to related communication with health professionals, self-care activities, and perceived effectiveness of these measures. This study was part of a larger project that explored patients' symptom experiences during chemotherapy over three months.
In this qualitative study, 19 patients with lymphomas, breast, lung or colorectal cancer participated concurrently with treatment at a Swiss tertiary care hospital's oncology outpatient clinic. Data on patients' fatigue experiences were collected via individual interviews following their third cycle of chemotherapy. Grounded Theory methodology guided data analysis.
At the start of their chemotherapy, health professionals informed patients that common side effects included fatigue. While all participants experienced different dimensions of fatigue, then, all were willing to endure it for the sake of an expected improvement in their conditions. Individuals' fatigue experiences depended largely on their particular life and illness circumstances. Most engaged in fatigue-related self-care activities and managed the symptom on their own. Communication with or input from health professionals was virtually absent during chemotherapy.
Adequate and systematic information regarding fatigue and related self-care strategies need to be implemented at the beginning of chemotherapy, along with continuous assessment and individual guidance of patients throughout their treatment.
疲劳影响大多数接受化疗的患者，他们普遍感到痛苦。以前的出版物表明，癌症患者经常缺乏有关疲劳的信息和教育；尽管大多数人都参与了自我护理活动，但仍不清楚他们为什么选择特定的活动，也不清楚这些活动的效果如何。我们探讨了癌症化疗患者目前对疲劳的看法，特别关注与卫生专业人员的相关沟通、自我护理活动以及对这些措施的有效性的看法。这项研究是一个更大项目的一部分，该项目探讨了患者在化疗期间三个月的症状体验。
在这项定性研究中，19 名患有淋巴瘤、乳腺癌、肺癌或结直肠癌的患者在瑞士三级护理医院的肿瘤门诊同时接受治疗。在接受第三次化疗后，通过个体访谈收集患者疲劳体验的数据。扎根理论方法指导数据分析。
在开始化疗时，卫生专业人员告知患者常见的副作用包括疲劳。虽然所有参与者都经历了不同维度的疲劳，但他们都愿意忍受疲劳，以期望病情有所改善。个体的疲劳体验在很大程度上取决于他们特定的生活和疾病情况。大多数人都参与了与疲劳相关的自我护理活动，并自行管理症状。在化疗期间，与卫生专业人员的沟通或投入几乎不存在。
在化疗开始时，需要提供有关疲劳和相关自我护理策略的充分和系统的信息，并在整个治疗过程中对患者进行持续评估和个体化指导。
