• DOI:10.1188/10.ONF.E359-E369
• Corpus ID: 31227569

Fatigue and other variables during adjuvant chemotherapy for colon and rectal cancer.

@article{Berger2010FatigueAO,
  title={Fatigue and other variables during adjuvant chemotherapy for colon and rectal cancer.},
  author={Ann M Berger and Jean L Grem and Constance G Visovsky and Heather A. Treat Marunda and Justin M. Yurkovich},
  journal={Oncology nursing forum},
  year={2010},
  volume={37 6},
  pages={
          E359-69
        }
}

• A. Berger, J. Grem, +2 authors Justin M. Yurkovich
• Published 8 November 2010
• Medicine, Psychology
• Oncology nursing forum

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To examine patterns of fatigue and other variables (sleep quality, sleep-wake variables, activity and rest, circadian rhythms, quality of life [QOL], blood counts, and demographic and medical variables) during colon and rectal cancer adjuvant chemotherapy, as well as feasibility of the study.

DESIGN
Longitudinal, descriptive feasibility study.

SETTING
Two oncology clinics in the midwestern region of the United States.

SAMPLE
From April 2006-December 2008, 27% of screened subjects (n = 21) enrolled and 14 completed the study. Participants were middle aged, partnered, and employed and had postsecondary education.

METHODS
Measurements completed during the first week of three two-week cycles (chemotherapy 1-3) and at six weeks (before chemotherapy 4) were the Piper Fatigue Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, wrist actigraphy, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colon, blood counts, and demographic and medical data form. Analysis included descriptive statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Fatigue, sleep quality, sleep-wake variables, activity-rest, circadian activity rhythms, and QOL.

FINDINGS
Fatigue was mild at baseline and rose to moderate levels during chemotherapy 1-3. Sleep quality was poor the months prior to chemotherapy 1 and chemotherapy 4. Actigraphy data revealed disturbed sleep, low daytime activity, and impaired circadian activity rhythms during the first week after chemotherapy 1-3. QOL ratings were similar to those in other cancer populations. Fatigue increased, and white blood cell counts decreased significantly over time.

CONCLUSIONS
During adjuvant chemotherapy, patients reported moderate fatigue and poor sleep quality; actigraphs confirmed problems with sleep maintenance as well as low daytime activity and disturbed circadian rhythms. Multiple barriers were encountered during the study.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Clinicians should screen for fatigue and sleep-wake variables and use guidelines to select interventions.