Indefinite. Restriction lift date: 10000-01-01
Cancer related fatigue and self-care while undergoing chemotherapy: patients' perspectives
| dc.check.date | 10000-01-01 | |
| dc.check.embargoformat | Hard bound copy in Library only | en |
| dc.check.entireThesis | Entire Thesis Restricted | |
| dc.check.info | Indefinite | en |
| dc.check.opt-out | Yes | en |
| dc.check.reason | No embargo required | en |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Hegarty, Josephine | en |
| dc.contributor.author | O'Regan, Patricia | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2015-11-04T12:26:36Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2014 | |
| dc.date.submitted | 2014 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is considered the most severe, debilitating and under-managed symptom of cancer. Patients receiving chemotherapy experience high levels of CRF which profoundly impacts on their lives. Aim: 1). To explore and measure CRF and determine the most effective self-care strategies used to combat CRF in a cohort of patients with a diagnosis of cancer (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) 2). To explore self-care agency and its relationship to CRF. Method: A mixed methods study which incorporated a descriptive, comparative, correlational design and qualitative descriptions of patients’ (n=362) experiences gleaned through open ended questions and use of a diary. The study utilised The Revised Pipers Fatigue Scale, the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency and a researcher developed Fatigue Visual Analogue Scale, Fatigue Self-Care Survey, and Diary. Findings: Having breast cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; using the strategies of counselling, taking a 20–30 minute nap, resting and sleeping, self-monitoring and complementary therapies were all associated with increased odds of developing fatigue. Increased self-care agency; being in the divorced / separated cohort; being widowed; increased length of time since commencement of chemotherapy; engagement in exercise, and socializing were associated with a reduced risk of developing fatigue. Females had 20% higher fatigue levels than males (p=<.001). Receiving support was the strategy used most frequently and rated most effective. Fatigue was very problematic and distressing, four key qualitative categories emerged: the behavioural impact, affective impact, the sensory impact, and the cognitive impact. Keeping a diary was considered very beneficial and cathartic. Conclusions: Fatigue severely impacted on the daily lives of patients undergoing chemotherapy. There are a range of self-care strategies that patients should be encouraged to use e.g. exercise, socializing, and enhancement of psychological well-being. The enhancement of self-care agency and use of diaries should also be considered. | en |
| dc.description.status | Not peer reviewed | en |
| dc.description.version | Accepted Version | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.citation | O'Regan, P. 2014. Cancer related fatigue and self-care while undergoing chemotherapy: patients' perspectives. PhD Thesis, University College Cork. | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10468/2026 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | University College Cork | en |
| dc.rights | © 2014, Patricia O'Regan. | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | Chemotherapy | en |
| dc.subject | Cancer related fatigue | en |
| dc.subject | Self care | en |
| dc.subject | Patients' perspectives | en |
| dc.subject | Nursing care | en |
| dc.thesis.opt-out | true | |
| dc.title | Cancer related fatigue and self-care while undergoing chemotherapy: patients' perspectives | en |
| dc.type | Doctoral thesis | en |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Doctoral | en |
| dc.type.qualificationname | PhD (Medicine and Health) | en |
