Abstract:
This descriptive correlational study aimed to explore the fatigue experience,
management strategies and well-being of advanced lung cancer patients receiving
palliative chemotherapy. With the Symptom Management Model of Dodd and
colleagues (2001) as a conceptual framework for the research, the sample included 84
patients with advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) at the Out Patient
Department (OPD) of Rajavithi Hospital and the OPD of the Chemotherapy and Blood
Transfusion Unit of Siriraj Hospital. Data were collected by questionnaires on
demographic characteristics, the Fatigue Piper Scale, Management strategies, and the
Index of Well-Being. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results and tests
were correlated by Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient.
The results revealed that participants had moderate levels of fatigue
experience. (Mean = 4.57, S.D. = 1.97). The majority of the strategies involved sitting
down and napping as the participants perceived these strategies to be most efficient at
alleviating fatigue. Hobbies and positive thinking were perceived as moderately
efficient at alleviating fatigue and over half of the participants viewed the healthcare
team as a source of knowledge. The subjects had a moderate level of psychological
well-being (Mean=33.45, S.D. =3.23). Educational level was significantly correlated
with fatigue experience. Time elapsed since diagnosis was also significantly correlated
with psychological well-being (r = -.27; r = .25, p<.05, respectively).The findings
obtained from this study suggested that health care providers should be concerned with
the educational level of participants in order to enhance knowledge about fatigue
management strategies and promote the well-being of participants from the time of
diagnosis. In addition, the findings can provide the basis for designing interventions
based on a symptom management model to help lung cancer patients effectively
manage fatigue experience and promote psychological well-being.