Energy for living with cancer: preliminary findings of a cancer rehabilitation group intervention study.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of a rehabilitation group intervention for people with cancer experiencing cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and examine the effects of the program on CRF distress. quality of life (QOL), and depression. DESIGN: Prospective, pre-/post-test intervention. SETTING: An outpatient area of a 551 -bed tertiary-care community hospital in the southeastern United States. SAMPLE: 20 participants have completed the program in four different groups. The preliminary mean age was 63.6 (range = 38-86). These participants had six different types of cancers, and 15 patients were receiving some form of cancer therapy during their participation in the program. METHODS: After providing informed consent participants completed the Cancer-Related Fatigue Distress Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression, the Functional Living Index-Cancer, and a demographic Information form. The intervention consists of eight weekly, 90-minute sessions with educational and sharing components. At the eighth session, participants were asked to complete the three instruments plus a program evaluation. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: CRF distress, depression, QOL. FINDINGS: Preliminary results indicate that the program provided information, support, and management strategies for CRF. The mean for the program evaluations overall was 9.8 (0-10 scale, range = 9-10). Statistically significant differences were found for pre- and post-test fatigue distress and QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings indicate that this intervention is appropriate and beneficial for patients with cancer experiencing fatigue, even for those patients who are very debilitated. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The program can be used as a rehabilitation program to help people with cancer to manage the sequelae of their illness and treatments.