Special Consultation Hour for Patients with Cancer-Related Fatigue: Study Protocol of an Observational Study of a Nationwide Health Care Structure by the Bavarian Cancer Society (BKG) in Bavaria

Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a burdensome condition of persistent tiredness, weakness, and lack of energy on physical, emotional, and cognitive level. CRF occurs in the context of cancer and/or its therapy and correlates with limitations in everyday life functioning, quality of life, and survival time. Up to now, medical care in Germany is inadequate. German wide institutions are lacking, which are specialised in identifying treatable factors influencing CRF as well as in counselling of adequate, evidence-based treatments. Since 2013, the Bavarian Cancer Society (BCS) implemented a nationwide health care structure with ten psychosocial cancer counselling centers in Bavaria. At these locations, the BCS offers for cancer patients with CRF special consultation hours with well-founded diagnostic and guidance. During the conception and further development of the consultation hour, all relevant guidelines have been considered. All consultation hours are directed by physicians with oncological and psycho-oncological experience. All of them took part in an extensive CRF training. The aim of this prospective, multicentre, observational study is the evaluation of the actual state of the TF-consultation including the analyses of offer and need for TF-consultation hours, of patient-reported TF before TF-consultation and ten weeks later, of realization of the recommended interventions to reduce TF as well as the analysis of strengths and potentials for improvement of the current system. The results will help to implement a German wide care structure.