• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was intended to identify the patterns of fatigue and its related factors in patients with stomach cancer during chemotherapy. Methods: Thirty participants (24 males and 6 females) were recruited for this study which utilized a longitudinal and descriptive approach. The research instruments included the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, Symptom Distress Scale, and Linear Analogue Self Assessment Scale. The participants received 5-FU and Adriamycin at the first week and 5-FU only at the second and third week. The instruments were measured six times in total. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0. Results: It was found that fatigue scores in patients with stomach cancer, receiving 5-FU and Adriamycin (FA) regimen, reached the highest level on the third day (F=9.37, p=.024) after the initial infusion, and decreased gradually afterward. The symptom and psychological distress scores illustrated very similar pattern. The concept of multidimensionality of fatigue in patients with stomach cancer was supported in this study, showing that all four dimensions of the scale were positively correlated. Conclusion: The results of this study provided useful information of patients with stomach cancer on fatigue and other related symptoms which they experienced during weekly scheduled chemotherapy with FA regimen.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3029-3033
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• 2014

Background: Dynamic changes of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among hospitalized patients with colorectal cancer were determined. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal, descriptive study involved 96 hospitalized patients with colorectal cancer, all recruited from a tertiary general hospital in Guangzhou, China. Patients completed questionnaires three times to assess the degree of fatigue, and measurement points were within one week of admission, at 2 to 3 days after surgery and 3 weeks after surgery. Results: Significant differences among the three measurement points (p<0.01) were observed. The scores of fatigue in the second survey were the highest, followed by the third and first surveys. Colon cancer patient scores were higher than those of rectal cancer patients with a significant difference (p<0.05). Colorectal patients experienced different degrees of fatigue at different periods during hospitalization. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of interventions that are carefully tailored to patients based on the characteristics at different periods to alleviate fatigue.

• CELLMED
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.4
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• 2011

For cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) or systemic chemotherapy (CHT), cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common problem that can negatively impact their quality of life. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant native to the Amazon basin that has been used as a stimulant since pre-Columbian times. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of guarana extract on fatigue in BC patients undergoing either CHT or RT. A total of 137 cancer patients (85% with Breast Cancer) undergoing either CHT (101) or RT (36) were randomized to receive either a placebo or guarana. In all 3 studies, the guarana was given as an unmanipulated dry extract at a dose of 75 mg PO QD in the first two studies or 50 mg PO BID in the third study. Patients were crossed over to the other experimental arm, and we evaluated fatigue with the Chalder Scale in all three studies. Guarana significantly improved the The Chalder Scale Global Scores (- 0.85; 95% CI:-1.31 to -0.40; p = 0.0002); Physical Fatigue Scores (-0.44; 95% CI: - 0.74 to - 0.13; p = 0.005) and Mental Fatigue Scores (-0.93; 95% CI: - 1.14 to - 0.72; p < 0.00001). Guarana did not produce any CTCAE grades 3 or 4 toxicities in any of the studies. Guarana is an effective, cheap and non-toxic alternative for the treatment of fatigue in cancer patients undergoing treatment.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 1998

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of farming in greenhouses with respect to subjective fatigue symptoms among farmers and the degree of symptoms. The study compared 176 green-house farmers with 216 open field farmers using a subjective fatigue symptoms rating scale developed by the Industrial Research Institute of Fatigue, Japanese Association for industrial Hygiene. 1. With respect to complaint rates of the subjective fatigue symptoms, the results indicated that greenhouse farmers have, in order of severity, high degrees of low back pain, difficulty in collecting thoughts, and apt to forget. 2. With respect to cumulative scores of fatigue symptoms, the results indicated that both groups of farmers exhibited a lack of attentiveness and a high degree of dullness and sleepiness(category I), body projection of fatigue(category II), and difficulty in concentration(category III). 3. With respect to general characteristics, it was found that the degrees of subjective fatigue symptoms were found to be higher among females, people with lower educational levels, and the elderly, regardless of the group. 4. With respect to work related factors, farmers with more years of experiences were found to have higher degrees of subjective fatigue symptoms, except for open field farmers with less than nine years experience. Both groups of farmers were found to have high degrees of subjective fatigue symptoms when working less than eight hours a day and less than six months a year. 5. With respect to health habits, for people who get less than eight hours of sleep per day exhibited higher fatigue scores than people who get more than eight hours. People who do not smoke and drink also exhibited higher fatigue scores than people who smoke and drink. 6. The results of multiple regression showed that the risk factors related to the subjective fatigue symptoms of farmers in the greenhouse group were ages, levels of education, sex and for the comparison group, were sex. years of farming, and hours of sleep. The R-square were 12.5% in the greenhouse group and 12.1% in the comparison son group. The differences between the greenhouse and open field farmers in the degrees of fatigue symptoms were found not to be statistically significant even if the working conditions of the greenhouse farmers were poor. This may be attributed to non-work related factors, i.e., social, economical, and psychological factors among greenhouse farmers.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.620-631
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• 2001

Purpose: Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of cancer patients. In this study, we analyzed the change of fatigue level and general symptoms as time go by, so that, we could explain more on the mechanism and change of fatigue in relation with treatment, and explore the influencing factors. Method: The subjects of this study were 50 GI cancer patients who have visited the cancer center of A hospital in Suwon. We measured fatigue by using the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale(RPFS) at the time of starting and finishing induction chemotherapy, and starting the 2nd cycle of chemotherapy. Results: 1) The fatigue score was 2.81, 3.73, and 3.82 in a 10 point scale at the time of starting and finishing induction chemotherapy, and starting the 2nd chemotherapy, respectively. This means fatigue persisted until after the treatment. 2) Fifty two percent of participants complained of some kinds of symptoms when starting the treatment, and the proportion increased up to 92% when finishing the treatment. 3) Fatigue scores were significantly high in patients with fatigue-related symptoms than for patients without those symptoms. 4) Fatigue scores showed significant differences according to patients' general characteristics such as age, educational level, economic status, occupation, diagnosis, hematocrit, weight, and amount of sleepy. Conclusion: We have to develop intervention strategies to reduce fatigue in cancer patients in the consideration of influencing factors.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2001

This study was conducted to explore the trajectory of fatigue and related factors on people with lung cancer during chemotherapy. A total of 23 patients with lung cancer participated in the beginning stage of the study. However, 11 dropped out because of death or discontinuity of the studys regimens. The data using the Pipers Fatigue Scale, were collected twice the first day of each treatment cycle and the last day of the completion of 6 cycles. Also, the scores of fatigue using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were measured on the same day of each week during chemotherapy to explain the trajectory of fatigue. The data obtained were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed ranks tests and Kendalls tau b correlation coefficient. The score of fatigue increased in the first two weeks after the administration of chemotherapy, while decreasing after the second week. During the 1st, 5th, and 6th cycles, the scores of fatigue were greater than 5.5 out of 10. Overall, except for the 6th cycle, the score of fatigue was the highest in the first week. This could be accounted for there only being a small number of patients included in the 6th cycle. In conclusion, fatigue was severe at the end of the first week of chemotherapy, and then increased to reach a plateau in the fifth and sixth stages. The results of this study will help oncology nurses to understand the process of fatigue during chemotherapy. It will be useful to create various intervention programs to decrease fatigue in people with cancer especially in the first week of the chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aromatherapy on stress, fatigue, mood, and vital signs of the nurses in the operating rooms. Methods: The data were collected from September 2007 to February 2008 in the operating room at K hospital located in Seoul, Korea. A total of 48 nurses were recruited. Among them, 25 nurses were randomly assigned to an experimental group and 23 were assigned to a control group. Experimental group was provided with aroma inhalation by necklace which had essential oil mixture of 0.2 cc. For aroma inhalation, Lavender, Zeranium and Mazoram were mixed in ratio of 5:3:2. In order to test the effectiveness of aroma inhalation, the pretest and posttest results for stress, fatigue, mood, and vital signs were compared between the experimental group and the control group. The data were analyzed by unpaired t-test and ANCOVA using the SPSS/WIN 15.0 program. Results: There were statistically significant decreases in the stress and fatigue scores, and increase in the mood scores and showed significant relaxation in the vital signs after the aroma inhalation. Conclusion: The aromatherapy had the positive effects on stress, fatigue, mood, and vital signs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.226-236
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aromatherapy on the level of anxiety and fatigue in student nurses who were undergoing their first clinical practice. Method: A non-equivalent. control group. pretest-posttest design was used. A convenience sample of 42 student nurses were selected. They were assigned to experimental and control groups. The aromatherapy using lavender, geranium and camomile was given to the experimental group for four consecutive days while the control group only rested. Result: 1. Anxiety scores for the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group on the $2^{nd},\;3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ days of clinical practice. 2. Fatigue scores for the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group on the $2^{nd},\;3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ day of clinical practice. Conclusion: The results support the conclusion that aromatherapy using selected essential oils is an effective intervention for relieving anxiety and fatigue in student nurses experiencing their first clinical practice. However differences between aromatherapy and massage were not clear. Further investigation needs to be done.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2020

Previous studies have reported an association between poor sleep and various symptoms and diseases, such as fatigue, obesity, depression, and anxiety. The effects of poor sleep may differ by age and sex. In addition, sleep characteristics and their effects may vary according to Sasang constitutional type. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between sleep quality, fatigue, and quality of life and to assess whether these differ by constitutional type. Participants were individuals aged 40-69 years living in two Korean communities in 2012-2014. Sleep quality, fatigue, and quality of life were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Fatigue Severity Scale, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, respectively. The effects of total PSQI score and PSQI component scores were analyzed using a generalized additive model. A Korean Sasang constitutional diagnostic questionnaire was used to assess Sasang constitution. Data for 5,793 participants were analyzed. Poor sleep quality was related to greater fatigue, and lower physical and mental quality of life. The PSQI components including subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medications, and daytime dysfunction were associated with fatigue and physical and mental quality of life. Sleep quality was significantly lower in So-Eum compared to So-Yang and Tae-Eum. PSQI component scores for fatigue and quality of life differed significantly by Sasang constitution: for Tae-Eum, sleep latency and use of sleep medications; for So-Eum, daytime dysfunction; and for So-Yang, use of sleep medications and daytime dysfunction. The effects of different aspects of sleep quality differ by Sasang constitution. To improve sleep quality, interventions need to be tailored to constitutional type.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was done to identify correlations between fatigue and quality of lift in clinical nurses. Method: A sample of 294 nurses working in 3 general hospitals answered a questionnaire containing Yoshitake's fatigue scale and WHOQOL-BREF. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. The SPSS/WIN 11.0 version program was used. Results: The score for level of fatigue was 2.11 (52.7%) and quality of lift, 2.89 (57.8%). The level of fatigue was highest in the physical domain followed by psychical and nervous-sensual domain in that order. There were statistically significant differences in scores of fatigue depending on the nurse's age, marital status, career, position, health status and present illness. Quality of life had the highest score in the social domain followed by physical, overall, psychological, and environmental domain in that order. There were statistically significant differences in scores on quality of life depending on nurse's age, marital status, career, position, health status and present illness. Conclusion: The relationship between fatigue and quality of lift revealed a significant negative correlation. Based on this study, nursing administrators need to reduce the level of nurse fatigue by providing various programs, which improve quality of life.