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Research Article
Loris Bonetti
Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland
Corresponding Author
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Fatigue is a complex and frequent symptom in cancer patients, influencing their quality of life, but it is still underestimated in clinical practice and undertreated. The aims of this study were to detect the presence of fatigue in cancer patients, describe the perceptions of patients and nurses regarding it and describe the nursing management of fatigue.
Methods
Mixed methods study. Data were collected in two oncological wards using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), an ad hoc questionnaire, patient interviews, focus groups with nurses and the review of nursing records. Interviews and focus groups were analysed through thematic analysis. We used SPSS 22.0 for quantitative data and Nvivo 10 for qualitative data analysis.
Results
A total of 71 questionnaires were analysed (39 males, mean age 65,7(±14) years). Fatigue was reported 5 times (7%) in nursing records, while in 17 cases (23.9%) problems related to it were reported. Twelve patients were interviewed. Five themes were identified: feeling powerless and aggressive, my strategies or what helps me, feeling reassured by the presence of family members, feeling reassured by nurses’ gestures, being informed. Three themes were identified through the focus groups: objectivity and subjectivity in the assessment of fatigue, nursing contribution within the multidisciplinary management of fatigue, and difficulty in evaluating outcomes.
Discussion
The approach to the management of fatigue was unstructured. Patients were satisfied with the care received but needed more information and specific interventions. Useful aspects were identified that could be used to change the professional approach towards the management of fatigue.
Keywords
fatigue, neoplasm, nurse, mixed methods.
No competing interests reported.
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 03 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Review #5 received
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Review #24 received
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Review #13 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #18 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #12 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #11 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #10 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #19 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #13 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #21 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #24 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #26 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #8 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #6 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #17 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #9 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #32 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #31 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #18 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #20 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #25 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #7 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 03 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 03 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 03 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 01 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 19 Feb, 2021
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Subject Areas
Nursing
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Nursing. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Loris Bonetti
Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 03 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Review #5 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #4 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #3 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #12 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #6 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #14 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #17 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #19 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #10 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #25 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #24 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #11 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #13 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Review #18 received
Received 18 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #12 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #11 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #10 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #19 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #13 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #21 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #24 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #26 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #8 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #6 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #17 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #9 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #32 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #31 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #18 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #20 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #25 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewer #7 agreed
On 15 Mar, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 03 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 03 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 03 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 01 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 19 Feb, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Nursing
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Fatigue is a complex and frequent symptom in cancer patients, influencing their quality of life, but it is still underestimated in clinical practice and undertreated. The aims of this study were to detect the presence of fatigue in cancer patients, describe the perceptions of patients and nurses regarding it and describe the nursing management of fatigue.
Methods
Mixed methods study. Data were collected in two oncological wards using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), an ad hoc questionnaire, patient interviews, focus groups with nurses and the review of nursing records. Interviews and focus groups were analysed through thematic analysis. We used SPSS 22.0 for quantitative data and Nvivo 10 for qualitative data analysis.
Results
A total of 71 questionnaires were analysed (39 males, mean age 65,7(±14) years). Fatigue was reported 5 times (7%) in nursing records, while in 17 cases (23.9%) problems related to it were reported. Twelve patients were interviewed. Five themes were identified: feeling powerless and aggressive, my strategies or what helps me, feeling reassured by the presence of family members, feeling reassured by nurses’ gestures, being informed. Three themes were identified through the focus groups: objectivity and subjectivity in the assessment of fatigue, nursing contribution within the multidisciplinary management of fatigue, and difficulty in evaluating outcomes.
Discussion
The approach to the management of fatigue was unstructured. Patients were satisfied with the care received but needed more information and specific interventions. Useful aspects were identified that could be used to change the professional approach towards the management of fatigue.
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