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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 3/2016

Open Access 01-03-2016 | Original Article

Fatigue and its associated psychosocial factors in cancer patients on active palliative treatment measured over time

Authors: Marlies E. W. J. Peters, Martine M. Goedendorp, Constans A. H. H. V. M. Verhagen, Gijs Bleijenberg, Winette T. A. van der Graaf

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 3/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Fatigue is a frequently reported symptom by patients with advanced cancer, but hardly any prospective information is available about fatigue while on treatment in the palliative setting. In a previous cross-sectional study, we found several factors contributing to fatigue in these patients. In this study, we investigated the course of fatigue over time and if psychosocial factors were associated with fatigue over time.

Methods

Patients on cancer treatment for incurable solid tumors were observed over 6 months. Patients filled in the Checklist Individual Strength monthly to measure the course of fatigue. Baseline questionnaires were used to measure disease acceptance, anxiety, depressive mood, fatigue catastrophizing, sleeping problems, discrepancies in social support, and self-reported physical activity for their relation with fatigue over time.

Results

At baseline 137 patients and after 6 months 89 patients participated. The mean duration of participation was 4.9 months. At most time points, fatigue scores were significantly higher in the group dropouts in comparison with the group participating 6 months (completers). Overall fatigue levels remained stable over time for the majority of participants. In the completers, 42 % never experienced severe fatigue, 29 % persisted being severely fatigued, and others had either an increasing or decreasing level. Of the investigated factors, low reported physical activity and non-acceptance of cancer were associated significantly to fatigue.

Conclusion

A substantial number of participants never experienced severe fatigue and fatigue levels remained stable over time. For those who do experience severe fatigue, non-acceptance of having incurable cancer and low self-reported physical activity may be fatigue-perpetuating factors.
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Metadata
Title
Fatigue and its associated psychosocial factors in cancer patients on active palliative treatment measured over time
Authors
Marlies E. W. J. Peters
Martine M. Goedendorp
Constans A. H. H. V. M. Verhagen
Gijs Bleijenberg
Winette T. A. van der Graaf
Publication date
01-03-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2909-0

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