J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2015 Nov;22(4):387-397. 10.7739/jkafn.2015.22.4.387.

Nutritional Status and Fatigue in Women Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

• Park EH
• Kim H

• KMID: 2149124
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2015.22.4.387

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status and fatigue, and to identify the relationship between nutritional status and fatigue in gynecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
METHODS
Participants were 106 outpatients who had uterine, ovary, or breast cancer and a descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Nutritional indicators including biochemical and anthropometric measures, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) scale, and the Piper's Revised Fatigue Scale were completed.
RESULTS
About thirty-nine percent of the patients were malnourished based on the SGA. Serum hemoglobin and total lymphocyte levels were less than the normal ranges, although anthropometrics were normal. The women experienced moderate fatigue with a mean score of 5.84+/-2.00. Nutritional status was significantly different by age, education, employment status, and monthly income. The women also had different nutritional status and fatigue depending on the type of cancer and chemotherapy. Fatigue was significantly related to SGA scores, serum hemoglobin, triceps skinfold thickness and mid-arm muscle circumference.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study highlight an urgent need to provide adequate nutritional support and fatigue management with individualized strategies for gynecological cancer patients on chemotherapy.

Keyword

Cancer; Chemotherapy; Fatigue; Nutritional status; Women

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Drug Therapy*
Education
Employment
Fatigue*
Female
Humans
Lymphocytes
Nutritional Status*
Nutritional Support
Outpatients
Ovary
Reference Values
Skinfold Thickness