Differences in the experience of fatigue in patients and healthy controls: patients' descriptions

Contains fulltext : 51764.pdf ( ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: The primary objective was to develop an adjective checklist, the Fatigue Quality List (FQL), aimed at assessing different perceptions of fatigue. METHODS: 961 participants filled out the FQL (28 adjectives). A component and confirmatory factor analyses were performed and psychometric properties were evaluated. Differences on factor scores between different patients' groups were investigated and pre- and post treatment scores were compared in demonstrating change of perceptions after treatment of fatigue. RESULTS: Four independent factors were found with adequate psychometric properties. Different perceptions were found between the patients' groups. Patients who were recovered after treatment for fatigue showed similar scores on the factors as healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The FQL appears to be a promising tool in measuring different perceptions of fatigue, which can be especially interesting for clinical practice

Fatigue in disease-free cancer patients

Contains fulltext : 19316_fatiindic.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)The present thesis consists of 1 literature review and 6 research articles on the subject of fatigue complaints in disease-free cancer patients who have finished curative treatment several years ago. In these articles the prevalence of severe fatigue, the relationship between severe fatigue and former treatment characteristics and the factors responsible for the perpetuation of fatigue are described. In three different samples of cancer survivors the proportion of severe fatigue varies from 19 to 38 percent. Results seem to suggest that fatigue complaints continue to decrease during the first 3 to 4 years after successful treatment. Nevertheless, for about a quarter of the cancer survivors severe fatigue complaints are persistent. Severely fatigued cancer survivors report more psychological distress, functional impairment at home or at work, sleep disturbances and neuropsychological problems than patients that do not experience severe fatigue. Furthermore, they perceive themselves as less physically active and to receive less social support than patients that are not severely fatigued. Type of cancer, type of surgery and type of adjuvant treatment are not related to persistent fatigue complaints after treatment for cancer. However, patients that did not have to undergo adjuvant treatment at all, and for whom surgery was without complications, seem to experience persistent fatigue less often than other patients. Factors responsible for the perpetuation of severe fatigue are low self-efficacy, high feelings of anxiety, serious limitations in role functioning, low sense of optimism and high tendency to focus on bodily symptoms.183 p

Health-Related Quality of Life Issues in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: Discrepancies with the Perceptions of Health Care Professionals

This study aimed to identify health-related quality of life (HRQoL) issues of relevance for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, the perception of relevant HRQoL issues for AYA in generalby the health care professionals (HCP), and discrepancies between issues identified by AYAs and HCP. Dutch AYAs aged 18–35 years at the time of cancer diagnosis (N = 83) and HCPs (N = 34) involved in AYA oncology were invited to complete the Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors questionnaire. HCPs rated physical symptoms such as fatigue, appetite, pain, constipation, sleep disorders, nausea and neuropathy among AYA cancer patients significantly higher (i.e., more problems) than AYA cancer patients. AYA cancer patients rated overall physical health and quality of life, happiness, satisfaction, usefulness and support from others, all positively formulated questions, significantly higher (i.e., more positive) than HCPs. The most highly rated issues (negative and positive combined) for AYAs were: perceived support from others, distress about initial cancer diagnosis, distress for family and overall quality of life. HCPs identified distress about diagnosis, treatment, family and interference of illness with employment/study as the most problematic issues (all negative) for AYAs. Five of the ten most common issues listed by patients and HCPs were the same. Male AYAs, patients treated with curative intent and those with a partner rated positive HRQoL issues higher than their counterparts. The discrepancy between the perception of patients and HCPs illustrates the importance of patient involvement in organizing physical and psychosocial care

Health-related quality of life issues in adolescents and young adults with cancer: Discrepancies with the perceptions of health care professionals

This study aimed to identify health-related quality of life (HRQoL) issues of relevance for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, the perception of relevant HRQoL issues for AYA in generalby the health care professionals (HCP), and discrepancies between issues identified by AYAs and HCP. Dutch AYAs aged 18–35 years at the time of cancer diagnosis (N = 83) and HCPs (N = 34) involved in AYA oncology were invited to complete the Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors questionnaire. HCPs rated physical symptoms such as fatigue, appetite, pain, constipation, sleep disorders, nausea and neuropathy among AYA cancer patients significantly higher (i.e., more prob-lems) than AYA cancer patients. AYA cancer patients rated overall physical health and quality of life, happiness, satisfaction, usefulness and support from others, all positively formulated questions, significantly higher (i.e., more positive) than HCPs. The most highly rated issues (negative and positive combined) for AYAs were: perceived support from others, distress about initial cancer diag-nosis, distress for family and overall quality of life. HCPs identified distress about diagnosis, treat-ment, family and interference of illness with employment/study as the most problematic issues (all negative) for AYAs. Five of the ten most common issues listed by patients and HCPs were the same. Male AYAs, patients treated with curative intent and those with a partner rated positive HRQoL issues higher than their counterparts. The discrepancy between the perception of patients and HCPs illustrates the importance of patient involvement in organizing physical and psychosocial care