The Effectiveness of Education Combining Exercise Program as an Intervention to Decrease Fatigue in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to examine the effect of an education combining exercise program on fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The Fatigue pattern model (Piper, 1998) was applied as theoretical framework. Subjects were patients attending at Thammasat chalermprakiet Hospital, Pratumthani. They were sequentially assigned into each group. The subjects of each group were matched according to cancer stage, cycle of chemotherapy, and level of fatigue before the intervention. The fi rst 20 subjects were assigned to the control group, who received the standard care. The second 20 subjects were in experimental, who received an education combining exercise program. Data were collected using a demographic data form and the Fatigue Questionnaire. The experimental instruments consisted of handbooks and pamphlet regarding cancer related fatigue and exercise practice. The data were analyzed and presented using percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square, and Repeated Measures ANOVA.

The results revealed that subjects in experimental group reported fatigue scores at post intervention significantly lower than subjects in the control group (p < .01). These fi ndings indicate that education combing walking exercise is an effective tool to manage fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. It is worth educating people using all forms of multimedia to promote effective self care method. This should include the preparation of a standard handbook of self care for nursing care in the organization, in order to increase effi cacy and to develop higher standards of nursing care in the future. The administration of chemotherapy should be preceded by a formal fatigue assessment and the provision of individually tailored education and exercise interventions to decrease the severity of fatigue.

Key words: Education Program, Exercise, Fatigue, Chemotherapy