Ekti Genc, R., & Conk, Z. (2008). Impact of effective nursing interventions to the fatigue syndrome in children who receive chemotherapy. Cancer Nursing, 31, 312–317.
The primary aim was to examine the effects of a nursing intervention for fatigue on children aged seven to 12 years who received chemotherapy. The secondary aim was to examine the relationship between fatigue and demographic variables, diagnoses, and therapy-related variables.
The experimental group received education about fatigue with chemotherapy and a fatigue handbook. Education provided included specific activities that decreased fatigue. Children were also walked in the hallway for physical activity. The control group was given routine nursing care. These activities were performed for one week. Participants were randomly assigned.
This was a randomized, controlled trial.
The difference between the two mean values on the FS-C between the experimental and control groups was statistically significant (p < 0.00). The difference between the two mean values of the FS-P between the experimental and control groups was statistically significant (p < 0.00).
The study showed some promise for an intervention to reduce fatigue. However, fatigue was not eliminated in the experimental group, and baseline fatigue scores were not collected from either group.
It would be feasible to perform the study procedure for the experimental group in practice if the education continued to prove effective on fatigue.