BACKGROUND

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) has gained increased attention in the past decade but remains difficult to treat. It is a predictor of patients' overall health and quality of life (QoL). Therefore, controlling fatigue is important for patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to test the effect of solution-focused therapy (SFT) in reducing CRF and improving QoL in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS

A total of 124 patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy were recruited and randomized to the SFT group or control group. Cancer-related fatigue was measured with the Cancer Fatigue Scale-Chinese version (CFS-C) at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Quality of life was measured with the Quality of Life Instruments for Colorectal Cancer Patients at baseline and 6 months.

RESULTS

Of 124 patients, 119 (95.9%) were evaluable. The SFT group showed significantly lower Cancer Fatigue Scale-Chinese version scores than the control group in all subscales and the total scores at 3 months (P < .001). At 6 months, the SFT group had significantly lower scores in cognitive fatigue (P < .001) and total fatigue (P = .005). The CRF of the SFT group decreased in the first 3 months (P = .012) but increased at 6 months (P < .001). The SFT group had significantly higher scores in the physical and psychological domains and overall QoL (P = .002, P <.001, and P = .02) than the control group at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Solution-focused therapy may decrease the CRF and improve QoL during chemotherapy for patients with CRC.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

Solution-focused therapy can be implemented to relieve fatigue and improve QoL in patients with CRC.