Many studies show that cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms experienced by children as a side effect of cancer therapy. This problem has grown considerably in recent years; the exact mechanisms underlying fatigue remain unclear. Therefore, assessing and managing this symptom can be problematic. This article describes the findings from a survey evaluating how health professionals (n = 56) at the Pediatric Oncology Centers in Izmir currently define and assess cancer-related fatigue. The results demonstrate that while the problems associated with fatigue are acknowledged, assessment tools are not widely used, and the majority of health professionals report that they would benefit from further education on the subject to assist in the care of patients.
Anderson, K.O., Getto, C.J., Mendoza, T.R., Palmer, S., Wang, S.X., Cleeland, C.S. ( 2003). Fatigue and sleep disturbance in patients with cancer, patients with clinical depression, and community-dwelling adults. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 25, 307-318.
2.
Barsevick, A., Dudley, V., Beck, S., Sweeney, C., Whitmer, K., & Nail, L. ( 2004). A randomized clinical trial of energy conservation for patients with cancer-related fatigue. Cancer, 100, 1302-1310.
3.
Davies, B., Whitsett, S.F., Bruce, A., & McCarthy, P. ( 2002). A typology of fatigue in children with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 19, 12-21.
4.
Eddy, L., & Cruz, M. ( 2007). The relationship between fatigue and quality of life in children with chronic health problems: A systematic review. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 12, 105-114.
5.
Edwards, J.L., Gibson, F., Richardson, A., Sepion, B., Ream, E. ( 2003). Fatigue in adolescents with and following a cancer diagnosis: developing an evidence base for practice. Eur J Cancer, 39, 2671-80.
6.
Ellen, J.M.N., Ros, W., & Grijpdonck, M.H. (2008). Nursing intervention for fatigue during the treatment for cancer. Cancer Nursing, 31, 191-206.
7.
Enskär, K., Carlsson, M., Golsäter, M., & Hamrin, E. ( 1997). Symptom distress and life situation in adolescents with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 20, 23-33.
8.
Erickson, J.M. ( 2004). Fatigue in adolescents with cancer: A review of the literature . Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8, 139-145.
9.
Genc, E.R., & Conk, Z. ( 2008). Impact of effective nursing interventions to the fatigue syndrome in children who receive chemotherapy. Cancer Nursing , 31, 312-317.
10.
Gibson, F., Edwards, J., Sepion, B., & Richardson, A. (2006). Cancer-related fatigue in children and young people: Survey of healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 10, 311-316.
11.
Gibson, F., Garnett, M., Richardson, A., Edwards, J., & Sepion, B. ( 2005). Heavy to carry a survey of parents’ and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of cancer-related fatigue in children and young people. Cancer Nursing, 28, 27-35.
12.
Hedstrom, M., Haglund, K., Skolin, I., & von Essen, L. ( 2003). Distressing events for children and adolescents with cancer: Child, parent and nurse perceptions. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 20, 120-132.
13.
Hinds, P.S., Hockenberry-Eaton, M., Gilger, E., Kline, N., Burleson, C., Bottomley, S., & Quargnenti, A. (1999). Comparing patient, parent, and staff descriptions of fatigue in pediatric oncology patients. Cancer Nursing, 22, 277-289.
14.
Hinds, P.S., Quargnenti, A., Bush, A., Pratt, C., Fairclough, D., Rissmiller, G., . . . Gilchrist, S.G. (2000). An evaluation of the impact of a self-care coping intervention on psychological and clinical outcomes in adolescents with new diagnosed cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 4, 6-17.
15.
Hockenberry, M. ( 2004). Symptom management research in children with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 21, 132-136.
16.
Hockenberry-Eaton, M., & Hinds, P.S. ( 2000). Fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer: Evolution of a program study. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 16, 261-272.
17.
Hockenberry-Eaton, M., Hinds, P., Alcoser, P., O’Neill, J.B., Euell, K., Howard, V., . . . Taylor, J. ( 1998). Fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 3, 172-182.
18.
Hockenberry, M.J., Hinds, P.S., Barrera, P., Bryant, R., Adams-McNeill, J., Hooke, C., . . . Manteuffel, B. (2003). Three instruments to assess fatigue in children with cancer: The child, parent and staff perspectives . Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 25, 319-328.
19.
Knowles, G., Borthwick, D., McNamara, S., Miller, M., & Leggot, L. ( 2000). Survey of nurses’ assessment of cancer related fatigue. European Journal of Cancer Care, 9, 105-113.
20.
Magnusson, K., Karlsson, E., Palmblad, C., Leitner, C., & Paulson, A. ( 1997). Swedish nurses’ estimation of fatigue as a symptom in cancer patients report on a questionnaire. European Journal of Cancer Care, 6, 186-191.
21.
McCabe, M. ( 2009). Fatigue in children with long-term conditions: An evolutionary concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65, 1735-1745.
22.
Mock, V. ( 2001). Fatigue management: Evidence and guidelines for practice . Cancer, 14, 1699-1707.
23.
Mooney-Doyle, K. ( 2006). An examination of fatigue in advanced childhood cancer . Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 23, 305-310.
24.
Perdikaris, P., Merkouris, A., Patiraki, E., Tsoumakas, K., Vasilatou-Kosmidis, E., & Matziou, V. ( 2009). Evaluating cancer related fatigue during treatment according to children’s, adolescents’ and parents’ perspectives in a sample of Greek young patients. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 13, 399-408.
25.
Piredda, M., De Marinis, M.G., Rocci, L., Gualandi, R., Tartaglini, D., & Ream, E. ( 2007). Meeting information needs on cancer-related fatigue: An exploration of views held by Italian patients and nurses. Support Care Cancer, 15, 1231-1241.
26.
Tiesinga, L.J., Dijkstra, A., Dassen, T.W.N., Halfens, R.J.G., & Van Den Heuvel, W.J.A. (2000). Are nurses able to assess fatigue, exertion fatigue and types of fatigue in residential home patients? Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 16, 129-136.
27.
Whitsett, S.F., Gudmundsdottir, M., Davies, B., McCarthy, P., & Friedman, D. ( 2008). Chemotherapy-related fatigue in childhood cancer: Correlates, consequences, and coping strategies. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 25, 86-96.
28.
Wolf, J., Grier, H.E., Klar, N., Levin, S.B., Ellenbogen, J.M., Salem-Schatz, S., . . . Weeks, J.C. ( 2000). Symptoms and suffering at the end of life in children with cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 342, 326-333.
29.
Yurtsever, S. ( 2007). The experience of fatigue in Turkish patients receiving chemotherapy. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34, 721-728. Zebrack, B.J., & Chesler, M.A. ( 2002). Quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. Psycho-oncology, 11, 132-141.
