TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in fatigue among cancer patients before, during, and after radiation therapy
T2 - A meta-analysis
AU - Li, Chia Ling
AU - Chen, Pei Ying
AU - Yang, Tsui Yun
AU - Chang, Joseph Tung Chieh
AU - Tang, Woung Ru
AU - Chen, Mei Ling
N1 - © 2023 Sigma Theta Tau International.
PY - 2024/6
Y1 - 2024/6
N2 - BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common symptom in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. However, previous studies report inconsistent patterns of fatigue change.AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate changes in fatigue among patients with cancer before, during, and after radiotherapy.METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, SDOL, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Medline [ProQuest], and ProQuest Dissertations) were searched for studies published from January 2006 to May 2021. Three effect sizes of fatigue change (immediate, short-term, and long-term) were calculated for each primary study using standardized mean difference. A random-effect model was used to combine effect sizes across studies. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to identify potential categorical and continuous moderators, respectively.RESULTS: Sixty-five studies were included in this meta-analysis. The weighted mean effect size for immediate, short-term, and long-term effects was 0.409 (p < .001; 95% CI [0.280, 0.537]), 0.303 (p < .001; 95% CI [0.189, 0.417]), and 0.201 (p = .05; 95% CI [-0.001, 0.404]), respectively. Studies with prostate cancer patients had a significantly higher short-term (0.588) and long-term weight mean effect size (0.531) than studies with breast (0.128, -0.072) or other cancers (0.287, 0.215). Higher radiotherapy dosage was significantly associated with a higher effect size for both immediate (β = .0002, p < .05) and short-term (β = .0002, p < .05) effect.LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Findings from this meta-analysis indicated that radiotherapy-induced fatigue (RIF) exist for more than 3 months after the completion of treatment. Assessment of radiation-induced fatigue in cancer patients should extend long after treatment completion, especially for patients with prostate cancer and patients receiving a higher radiation dose. Interventions to reduce fatigue tailored for different treatment phases may be developed.
AB - BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common symptom in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. However, previous studies report inconsistent patterns of fatigue change.AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate changes in fatigue among patients with cancer before, during, and after radiotherapy.METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, SDOL, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Medline [ProQuest], and ProQuest Dissertations) were searched for studies published from January 2006 to May 2021. Three effect sizes of fatigue change (immediate, short-term, and long-term) were calculated for each primary study using standardized mean difference. A random-effect model was used to combine effect sizes across studies. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to identify potential categorical and continuous moderators, respectively.RESULTS: Sixty-five studies were included in this meta-analysis. The weighted mean effect size for immediate, short-term, and long-term effects was 0.409 (p < .001; 95% CI [0.280, 0.537]), 0.303 (p < .001; 95% CI [0.189, 0.417]), and 0.201 (p = .05; 95% CI [-0.001, 0.404]), respectively. Studies with prostate cancer patients had a significantly higher short-term (0.588) and long-term weight mean effect size (0.531) than studies with breast (0.128, -0.072) or other cancers (0.287, 0.215). Higher radiotherapy dosage was significantly associated with a higher effect size for both immediate (β = .0002, p < .05) and short-term (β = .0002, p < .05) effect.LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Findings from this meta-analysis indicated that radiotherapy-induced fatigue (RIF) exist for more than 3 months after the completion of treatment. Assessment of radiation-induced fatigue in cancer patients should extend long after treatment completion, especially for patients with prostate cancer and patients receiving a higher radiation dose. Interventions to reduce fatigue tailored for different treatment phases may be developed.
KW - cancer
KW - fatigue
KW - meta-analysis
KW - nursing
KW - radiotherapy
KW - symptom
KW - Neoplasms/radiotherapy
KW - Fatigue/etiology
KW - Humans
KW - Radiotherapy/adverse effects
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85168003495&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/wvn.12672
DO - 10.1111/wvn.12672
M3 - 文献综述
C2 - 37574783
AN - SCOPUS:85168003495
SN - 1545-102X
VL - 21
SP - 234
EP - 244
JO - Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
JF - Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
IS - 3
ER -
