Williams, S. A., & Schreier, A. M. (2005). The role of education in managing fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disorders in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Applied Nursing Research, 18, 138–147.
Patients were given a 20-minute audiotape that provided information about exercise and relaxation to manage anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems. A printed self-care diary (SCD) of self-care behaviors that mirrored the audiotape was also provided. Participants were instructed to listen to the audiotape 12 to 24 hours before the start of chemotherapy cycles and as often as desired during the course of treatment. Patients in the control group received the standard education and care given to all patients during chemotherapy, whereas the experimental group received standard education and care, the audiotape, and the printed SCD.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
This was a randomized study; patients were randomly assigned to either the control or experimental group.
SCD
A higher percentage of women in the control group reported fatigue compared to the experimental group. Although the experimental group increased the number of self-care behaviors to address fatigue compared to the control group, this difference was not statistically significant.