Socio-demographic correlates and the Level of Fatigue of Breast Cancer Patients undergoing Out-patient Based Chemotherapy Treatment in Eastern Visayas

Abstract

One of the common symptoms experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment is fatigue. Several studies were conducted outside the country that focused on measuring the level of fatigue among cancer patients. However, little studies were conducted in the Philippines that measured the level of fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Hence, the study aimed to address the gap in knowledge and expanding the knowledge about the level of fatigue experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The study used a descriptive- correlational research to determine the socio-demographic profile and the level of fatigue of the 67 cancer patients who are undergoing out-patient based chemotherapy treatment in a tertiary hospital and to test whether significant relationship exist between the variables. The Brief Fatigue Inventory was used as the main instrument of the study. Results of the study shows that majority of the respondents aged 50-59 years old, females, married, Roman Catholic, high school graduates, unemployed, had second stage of breast cancer and had more than three sessions of chemotherapy treatment. Moreover, results of the study revealed that majority experienced moderate fatigue and only stage of cancer and number of chemotherapy sessions among the socio-demographic variables showed a significant relationship with the level of fatigue. The results of the study highlight the need to craft for an intervention scheme to decrease the level of fatigue felt by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.