Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors

Background: No study has investigated the cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among Palestinian breast cancer survivors. Our purpose is to assess, compare, and correlate CRF in breast cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy (RT) with study variables.Methods: CRF in breast cancer survivors was assessed usi...

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Main Authors: Hussein ALMasri, Omar Rimawi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2024.2302569
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author Hussein ALMasri
Omar Rimawi
author_facet Hussein ALMasri
Omar Rimawi
author_sort Hussein ALMasri
collection DOAJ
description Background: No study has investigated the cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among Palestinian breast cancer survivors. Our purpose is to assess, compare, and correlate CRF in breast cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy (RT) with study variables.Methods: CRF in breast cancer survivors was assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) (version 4). The sample consisted of 148 breast cancer survivors undergoing RT. Data was collected between 1 May 2021 and 1 September 2021. The means and standard deviations of the questionnaire using one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient were reported.Results: Respondents ages ranged from 20 to >65 years old and was divided into four groups: (20–35, 36–50, 51–65, and >65 years, respectively). The total fatigue mean was 2.88 and the SD was 0.84, indicating an intermediate fatigue level among breast cancer survivors. Study survivors with higher education were more likely to be fatigued (F =7.68, P-value =0.001). Divorced survivors were more prone to fatigue compared to married survivors (F =5.83, P-value= 0.001). Finally, survivors who do not have children were more vulnerable to exhaustion compared to those with children (F =7.35, P-value =0.001). Also, younger survivors were more prone to fatigue, compared to older survivors (F =5.29, P-value = 0.002). Results also showed a positive relationship between each of the variables; the number of children (R =0.221, P-value =0.007), age (R =0.311, P-value =0.000), and duration of treatment (R =0.290, P-value =0.000), which means that the greater the number of children, the younger the age, or the longer the duration of treatment, the more fatigue is reported in breast cancer survivors.Conclusions: Fatigue is frequently observed in breast cancer survivors undergoing RT. It can limit RT treatment continuity. Therefore, early detection of fatigue can help survivors adhere to RT treatment and achieve better clinical results.
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spelling doaj-art-190d8aac709c4423922bb62c4d44001d2025-08-20T02:31:23ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHealth Psychology and Behavioral Medicine2164-28502024-12-0112110.1080/21642850.2024.2302569Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivorsHussein ALMasri0Omar Rimawi1Medical Imaging Department, Faculty of Health Professions, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, PalestineDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, PalestineBackground: No study has investigated the cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among Palestinian breast cancer survivors. Our purpose is to assess, compare, and correlate CRF in breast cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy (RT) with study variables.Methods: CRF in breast cancer survivors was assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) (version 4). The sample consisted of 148 breast cancer survivors undergoing RT. Data was collected between 1 May 2021 and 1 September 2021. The means and standard deviations of the questionnaire using one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient were reported.Results: Respondents ages ranged from 20 to >65 years old and was divided into four groups: (20–35, 36–50, 51–65, and >65 years, respectively). The total fatigue mean was 2.88 and the SD was 0.84, indicating an intermediate fatigue level among breast cancer survivors. Study survivors with higher education were more likely to be fatigued (F =7.68, P-value =0.001). Divorced survivors were more prone to fatigue compared to married survivors (F =5.83, P-value= 0.001). Finally, survivors who do not have children were more vulnerable to exhaustion compared to those with children (F =7.35, P-value =0.001). Also, younger survivors were more prone to fatigue, compared to older survivors (F =5.29, P-value = 0.002). Results also showed a positive relationship between each of the variables; the number of children (R =0.221, P-value =0.007), age (R =0.311, P-value =0.000), and duration of treatment (R =0.290, P-value =0.000), which means that the greater the number of children, the younger the age, or the longer the duration of treatment, the more fatigue is reported in breast cancer survivors.Conclusions: Fatigue is frequently observed in breast cancer survivors undergoing RT. It can limit RT treatment continuity. Therefore, early detection of fatigue can help survivors adhere to RT treatment and achieve better clinical results.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2024.2302569Radiotherapyfatiguebreast cancerPalestine
spellingShingle Hussein ALMasri
Omar Rimawi
Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors
Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
Radiotherapy
fatigue
breast cancer
Palestine
title Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors
title_full Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors
title_fullStr Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors
title_full_unstemmed Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors
title_short Radiotherapy-induced fatigue in Palestinian breast cancer survivors
title_sort radiotherapy induced fatigue in palestinian breast cancer survivors
topic Radiotherapy
fatigue
breast cancer
Palestine
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2024.2302569
work_keys_str_mv AT husseinalmasri radiotherapyinducedfatigueinpalestinianbreastcancersurvivors
AT omarrimawi radiotherapyinducedfatigueinpalestinianbreastcancersurvivors