We Need a Study to Define Fatigue?
Apparently, the term “fatigue” as used by millions of patients who visit the doctor for this disorder, needed a study to define the problem. A “qualitative” study was done at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to look at three underlying themes behind the disorder of fatigue. They looked at “loss of strength or energy”, “major effects of fatigue” and “effects of fatigue and associated sensations”.
The study included open-ended, audio-taped interviews with 21 patients receiving radiation therapy at the Cancer Center. Fifty-seven percent of the interviewees were women with an average age of 54 years old.
More than 85 percent of the patients used the terms “tiredness” and “lack of energy” to describe their fatigue. According to the researchers, these may be good terms to look for when speaking with patients regarding their symptoms.
Physical symptoms associated with fatigue included malaise, aching, feelings of heaviness or weight, slowness of movement, lack of appetite and mental sensations of psychological distress and difficulty thinking or concentrating.
“Defining the patient’s experience with a symptom is critical to assessing and managing that symptom” stated one of the researchers. Future plans include developing a single definition of cancer-related fatigue.
Cephalon sponsored the grant for this study. Cephalon stated that they think it would be “useful to have an evidence-based tool to further define the problem of fatigue in the oncology area”. Once a tool is defined, more appropriate interventions can be developed and/or applied. There is currently little evidence based research in this area, according to a spokesperson for Cephalon.
About the Author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
