Effect of the Fatigue Reduction Program on Fatigue Reduction in Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy

Abstract

          This study aimed to determine the impact of training based on the fatigue reduction program on fatigue reduction in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy This quasi-experimental, pretest – posttest two group design was conducted. Fifty-one breast cancer patients were referred to Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital in Khon Kaen from November 2022 to September 2023. Samples were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=25) and control group (n=26). The intervention group participated in a training program based on the fatigue reduction program in daily for five weeks, five days per week. Phone follow-up was also done once every day. The control group only received routine hospital education. The researcher evaluated the fatigue score of the participants both group before and four weeks after the start of the study. Personal data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including numbers and percentages. Fatigue level data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations. Fatigue level data was compared before and after the experiment within the experimental group using t-test dependent. Fatigue level data was compared before and after the experiment between the experimental and control groups using t-test independent.
            The finding indicate that the mean fatigue score of the control group after the experiment was significantly higher than before the experiment (p-value = .02). The mean fatigue score of the experimental group after the experiment was significantly lower than before the experiment (p-value = .00). The mean fatigue score between the control group and experimental group after the experiment was significantly different (p-value =.00).