Saarik, J. & Hartley, J. (2010). Living with cancer-related fatigue: developing an effective management programme. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 16, 6, 8–12.

To develop, run, and evaluate a program for patients with cancer at any stage of their illness.

Groups of no more than six patients were led by an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist for two to three hours per session for four weeks. The program involved group discussion and support, practical sessions, information, and homework to achieve individual goals. Information was collected through evaluation forms and fatigue scales. Patients were invited to attend the program by clinical nurse specialists (CNSs).

• Twenty-eight patients (23 females, 5 males) completed the fatigue course.
• Age ranged from 37 to 82 years, with the majority being in their 50s and 60s.
• Diagnoses included were gynecological cancer (43%), breast cancer (18%), lung cancer (11%), and other (28%).
• Stages of treatment ranged from curative to palliative.

• Single site
• Patients were recruited from clinical sites through CNSs from groups in Doncaster.

The study was a prospective trial.

Evaluation forms included a linear analog scale using a 0-to-10 scale and a comment field about their opinion of the program.

Patients reported positive thoughts about the time of the course, the location, and the knowledge of the instructors.

The study demonstrated a program that can potentially be used in a fatigue population that desires a group therapy intervention. Patient reports were positive, and no adverse effects were reported.

• The study had risks of bias due to no control or blinding procedures.
• Data were given as patient opinion and, therefore, could not be analyzed statistically.
• There may also be some issue in terms of staff required to lead the group sessions.

The study intervention could be easily taught to nurses desiring this type of intervention for their patients if the intervention proved effective.