Fatigue experience and coping strategies in Taiwanese lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

Aims. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore fatigue levels and fatigue-coping strategies in Taiwanese lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Background. Lung cancer is now recognized as one of the most common cancers in Taiwan, with a high prevalence of mortality. As chemotherapy progresses, fatigue is a common cause of symptom distress. Methods. Data on demographic and disease-related characteristics were gathered from the medical record, and data on fatigue and coping strategies were gathered by questionnaires administered to 101 lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Results. The mean fatigue score for the total sample was 8·0 (SD = 5·0, range = 0-20), indicating light-to-moderate fatigue. The majority of patients (n = 76, 75·2%) had a baseline haemoglobin level of ≤12 g/dl and a significantly greater (t = 2·7, p < 0·01) mean fatigue score (8·5 SD 4·6) than patients with haemoglobin >12 g/dl (6·2 SD 5·7). Fatigue levels were significantly higher in patients receiving a third course of chemotherapy than in those receiving a first course (F = 3·7, p = 0·03). The most commonly used management category was energy conservation (n = 659), and the most commonly used strategy was sitting (n = 101) and lying down (n = 98). However, participants rated exercise (mean = 3·9), sleep (mean = 3·8) and walking (mean = 3·6) as the most effective. Conclusion. This study highlighted the management of fatigue problems in lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, especially in respecting patients' self-report of fatigue-management strategies. Relevance to clinical practice. Health care providers should carefully assess patients for fatigue while they are receiving chemotherapy. These patients and their caregivers should be taught to notice fatigue and encouraged to choose coping strategies that reduce fatigue level, thus improving their quality of life.