Radiotherapy related fatigue: strategies and knowledge of the UK radiographer and nurse

Abstract

Background: Cancer related fatigue, a symptom that was largely ignored in the past, is now regarded by health care professionals as being one of the most important patient issues because of its prevalence and impact on patients undergoing the various cancer treatments. Over the past 10 years the interest in this field has increased and the information available about this subject area has vastly improved. As a result of these changes it was decided to survey the two main professions involved with this patient group to identify what information is currently given to the patients regarding radiotherapy-related fatigue and to assess the professional’s knowledge. Method:Questionnaires designed to ascertain health care professionals’ knowledge about the subject area and the advice that they would give a patient were sent to a total of 29 hospitals. Results/Conclusion: An overall response rate of 56% was obtained which was greater for radiographers (71%) than for nurses (41%). The advice being given to the patients was essentially the same for both groups however the nurses tended to give the advice at the start of treatment whereas radiographers tended to wait until the patient was symptomatic which, it is argued, is not the best method. Advice would be modified by both health care groups depending on the site treated, however there was no general agreement about which site would cause most fatigue. Despite these differences in advice to patients, the knowledge of fatigue was found to be similar for both groups.