Nursing intervention for patients with cancer-related fatigue receiving continuous chemotherapy with chemotherapy pumps for gastrointestinal cancers

Abstract

Objective To explore the methods of nursing intervention for patients with cancer- related fatigue receiving continuous chemotherapy with chemotherapy pumps for gastrointestinal cancers.Methods Sixty patients were randomly divided into a study group and a control group.The control group received conventional care and the study group received systemic nursing intervention.Brief Fatigue Assessment.EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire,and in-depth interview were used to assess cancerrelated fatigue and QOL before and 4 weeks after intervention.Results The study group was compared with the control group in the degrees of cancer-related fatigue before nursing intervention,x2 =0.31 and P ＞ 0.857; after intervention,x 2=14.67,and P ＜ 0.002.Quality of life did not differ significantly between the two groups before nursing intervention ( P＞ 0.05 ) but differ significantly after intervention ( P＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Systemic nursing intervention including cognitive intervention,proper exercise and rest,and rational dietary can eliminate or relieve cancer-related fatigue and improve quality of life in patients. Key words: Gastrointestinal cancers; Cancer-related fatigue; Chemotherapy pump; Continuous chemotheray; Nursing intervention