Paige Thompson1. 1. St. Luke's School of Nursing, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA, USA. pt@moravian.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To determine relationships among (a) cancer-related fatigue and meaning in life, (b) overall symptom distress and meaning in life, (c) fatigue and performance, and (d) overall symptom distress and performance in breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and correlational. SETTING: Community-based setting in eastern Pennsylvania. SAMPLE: 34 women who had completed their last treatment for breast cancer within the prior 16 months. METHODS: Data were collected using the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Life Attitude Profile-Revised (LAP-R), Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF), and Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 (SF-36). MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Fatigue and meaning in life. FINDINGS: One moderate negative correlation was found between the PFS sensory subscale and the choice or responsibleness dimension of the LAP-R. Significant moderate to strong negative correlations were found between the MSAS-SF total score and two subscale scores and the existential transcendence dimension of the LAP-R. Significant moderate to strong negative correlations were found between four subscales of the SF-36 representing performance and the MSAS-SF total score. CONCLUSIONS: Meaning in life may influence fatigue and overall symptoms in breast cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Assessment of meaning in life may be important in the management of fatigue and overall symptoms in women after treatment for breast cancer.
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To determine relationships among (a) cancer-related fatigue and meaning in life, (b) overall symptom distress and meaning in life, (c) fatigue and performance, and (d) overall symptom distress and performance in breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and correlational. SETTING: Community-based setting in eastern Pennsylvania. SAMPLE: 34 women who had completed their last treatment for breast cancer within the prior 16 months. METHODS: Data were collected using the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Life Attitude Profile-Revised (LAP-R), Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF), and Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 (SF-36). MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Fatigue and meaning in life. FINDINGS: One moderate negative correlation was found between the PFS sensory subscale and the choice or responsibleness dimension of the LAP-R. Significant moderate to strong negative correlations were found between the MSAS-SF total score and two subscale scores and the existential transcendence dimension of the LAP-R. Significant moderate to strong negative correlations were found between four subscales of the SF-36 representing performance and the MSAS-SF total score. CONCLUSIONS: Meaning in life may influence fatigue and overall symptoms in breast cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Assessment of meaning in life may be important in the management of fatigue and overall symptoms in women after treatment for breast cancer.
Authors: Anna L Gravier; Omar Shamieh; Carlos Eduardo Paiva; Pedro Emilio Perez-Cruz; Mary Ann Muckaden; Minjeong Park; Eduardo Bruera; David Hui Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-12-19 Impact factor: 3.603