OBJECTIVE: This study describes the experiences of fatigue and pain in incurable cancer patients and the treatment they receive. METHODS: Patients were recruited via medical specialists from hospitals in the South and Southwest of the Netherlands. Hundred and twenty-five incurable cancer patients filled out a written questionnaire and were also interviewed at home. RESULTS: Ninety percent reported to suffer from fatigue and 48% had pain. Forty-five percent had discussed fatigue with a healthcare professional and 55% had discussed pain. Fifteen percent reported to receive medical treatment for their fatigue and 29% received pain treatment. Treatment for fatigue and pain treatment had been recently adjusted in 4% of the patients with fatigue complaints and 21% of the patients with pain complaints. CONCLUSION: Although fatigue is a more common problem than pain in patients with incurable cancer, less attention in the care is paid to fatigue and its treatment than to pain. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Fatigue deserves more attention in the care policy for incurable cancer patients and more research should be focused on interventions to address fatigue in this group of cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE: This study describes the experiences of fatigue and pain in incurable cancerpatients and the treatment they receive. METHODS:Patients were recruited via medical specialists from hospitals in the South and Southwest of the Netherlands. Hundred and twenty-five incurable cancerpatients filled out a written questionnaire and were also interviewed at home. RESULTS: Ninety percent reported to suffer from fatigue and 48% had pain. Forty-five percent had discussed fatigue with a healthcare professional and 55% had discussed pain. Fifteen percent reported to receive medical treatment for their fatigue and 29% received pain treatment. Treatment for fatigue and pain treatment had been recently adjusted in 4% of the patients with fatigue complaints and 21% of the patients with pain complaints. CONCLUSION: Although fatigue is a more common problem than pain in patients with incurable cancer, less attention in the care is paid to fatigue and its treatment than to pain. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Fatigue deserves more attention in the care policy for incurable cancerpatients and more research should be focused on interventions to address fatigue in this group of cancerpatients.
Authors: David Berendes; Francis J Keefe; Tamara J Somers; Sejal M Kothadia; Laura S Porter; Jennifer S Cheavens Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2010-06-25 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Joanne Greenhalgh; Purva Abhyankar; Serena McCluskey; Elena Takeuchi; Galina Velikova Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2012-06-16 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Marlies E W J Peters; Martine M Goedendorp; Constans A H H V M Verhagen; Gijs Bleijenberg; Winette T A van der Graaf Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-09-03 Impact factor: 3.603