Goedendorp, M. M., Peters, M. E., Gielissen, M. F., Witjes, J. A., Leer, J. W., Verhagen, C. A., & Bleijenberg, G. (2010). Is increasing physical activity necessary to diminish fatigue during cancer treatment? Comparing cognitive behavior therapy and a brief nursing intervention with usual care in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. The Oncologist, 15, 1122–1132.
The primary aim was to demonstrate the efficacy of a brief nursing intervention (BNI) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) compared to usual care (UC). The secondary aim was to determine the role of physical activity in reducing fatigue during cancer treatment.
In total, 220 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: BNI, CBT, or UC.
The study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.
The CBT group was significantly less fatigued than the UC group. Between the BNI and the UC groups, no significant difference in fatigue was found. Physical activity was found not to mediate the effect of CBT on fatigue.
CBT during curative cancer treatment resulted in less fatigue compared to the BNI and UC groups. The mediation hypothesis was rejected.
Further study is warranted to determine the effects of specific nursing interventions on the experience of fatigue in patients with cancer.