Self-Management Energy Conservation for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Thai Women With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study

Objectives: To examine the adherence to and the usefulness, satisfaction, and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week self-management energy conservation and active management intervention on fatigue.

Sample & Setting: A total of 19 Thai women diagnosed with stage I–III breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled from a local hospital in the central region of Thailand.

Methods & Variables: A randomized controlled trial design was used. Fatigue was measured using the Piper Fatigue Scale–Revised and was collected at baseline and 12 weeks. Descriptive statistics and Student’s t tests were used to analyze the data.

Results: Participants completed four interventional sessions. Of participants in the experimental group, nine were satisfied with the intervention, seven were satisfied with its effects on fatigue, and seven were very satisfied with the telephone delivery. Participants in the experimental group reported significantly less fatigue at 12 weeks compared to the attention control group (p = 0.008).

Implications for Nursing: Teaching energy conservation principles and strategies to women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy is an intervention oncology nurses can easily deliver.