Reif, K., de Vries, U., Petermann, F., & Görres, S. (2013). A patient education program is effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue: a multi-centre randomised two-group waiting-list controlled intervention trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17, 204–213.
To evaluate a patient education program aimed at reducing fatigue.
Patients were randomly assigned to intervention or wait-list control groups. The intervention consisted of group education and support sessions for 90 minutes once weekly for six weeks. Data were collected at baseline and at six weeks and six months postintervention. Patients were encouraged to keep a diary at home, perform exercises, and implement lifestyle changes.
Patients were undergoing the late effects and survivorship phase of care.
The study was a randomized, controlled trial.
Analysis showed that, over time, fatigue was significantly reduced in the intervention group (effect size of partial eta2 = 0.248; p < 0.001). GSE and EXSE improved over time in the intervention group but declined in the control group.
Findings demonstrated that the psychoeducational intervention was effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue.
The study adds to the body of evidence that supports the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue. This group of patients was very fatigued at baseline, and the effect size of the intervention was substantial, suggesting that the psychoeducational approach effect was clinically meaningful in a challenging group of patients.