Abstract
Introduction: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the major problems experienced by cancer patients. Identifying the prevalence and factors associated with CRF may be effective in designing appropriate interventions to reduce this problem. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of CRF and its related factors among Iranian cancer survivors. Methods: The samples of this descriptive cross-sectional study included 131 cancer survivors referred to outpatient clinic of Shahid Gazi Hospital affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Brief fatigue inventory (BFI) questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13, descriptive statistics, and regression analysis. Results: The mean (SD) fatigue score was 6.41 (1.68) and 89% of survivors reported that they had suffered from CRF. The factors affecting CRF included blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, anemia, serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), marital status, type of cancer, and physical activity. Conclusion: High level of CRF in cancer survivors requires special attention and designing effective interventions through considering the identified factors associated with CRF.
Highlights
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the major problems experienced by cancer patients
The results showed that factors of hypertension, marital status, anemia, urea-creatinine ratio, and activity levels, respectively, were the factors affecting fatigue in cancer patient. (Table 2)
The CRF is related to such factors as blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, anemia, serum levels of the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), marital status, and levels of physical activity
Summary
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the major problems experienced by cancer patients. Conclusion: High level of CRF in cancer survivors requires special attention and designing effective interventions through considering the identified factors associated with CRF. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients, with a prevalence of 59%-96%.5-7. In a study by Sharifi Rizi et al, 59% of cancer patients under treatment reported significant levels of fatigue.[8] Another study by Zeighami Mohammadi et al, reported that 95% of Iranian cancer patients suffer from fatigue.[9] CRF is a distressing, persistent, and subjective sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness related to cancer or cancer treatment, that is not proportional to recent physical activity and interferes with the patient’s functioning.[10] CRF is a multifactorial phenomenon in cancer patients and may be influenced by numerous factors including demographics, medical, psychosocial, behavioral, and biological factors.[11]
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