Does the Association Between Fatigue and Fatigue Self-management Preference Vary by Breast Cancer Stage?

BACKGROUND Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a major issue facing breast cancer survivors (BCS) that can negatively impact their symptoms and quality of life. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to examine levels of fatigue, identify preferred types of fatigue self-management, and explore the relationship between fatigue levels and management choices by cancer stage. METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study included 229 BCS recruited from 5 hospitals in Korea. The study inclusion criteria were limited to BCS between 20 and 69 years old in stages 1, 2, or 3 who were undergoing or had completed active therapy. The Revised Piper Fatigue Scale and a questionnaire developed for fatigue management were used for data collection. RESULTS The stage 2 group experienced more fatigue (mean, 5.31) than the other cancer stage groups, and significant differences in fatigue were found between stages 1 and 2 (P < .001). Fatigue self-management choices showed different correlations with fatigue levels in each stage. Physical activity control was most frequently used in stage 1, whereas exercise was most frequently used in stages 2 and 3. Multivariate regression analysis showed that exercise consistently and effectively decreased all fatigue dimensions. CONCLUSION Stage 2 BCS experienced the greatest level of CRF, and fatigue levels and management choices differed in BCS by cancer stage. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Recognizing how CRF and patients' preferences for fatigue self-management may differ by cancer stage can alert clinicians in assessing CRF and tailoring effective fatigue management for BCS.