A Self-Management Energy Conservation Program for Cancer-Related Fatigue

A Self-Management Energy Conservation Program for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Thai Women With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study is to examine a 12-week self-management energy conservation program (ECAM)'s effects on fatigue, and secondarily on sleep, physical activity, anxiety and depression, self-efficacy, and beliefs about fatigue in a group of Thai women with breast cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. We will also evaluate how well women like the intervention, how easy it is to use and whether women will do the activities.

Cancer-related fatigue is a distressing and multidimensional symptom. Research in the US has explored the efficacy of energy conservation interventions for fatigue and related symptoms but no previous ECAM programs have been tested in Thailand.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Thai women are age 18 or older; are diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer; are scheduled to receive at least four cycles of chemotherapy given in 21-day-intervals; report at least 4 out of 10 or higher on a fatigue scale in the past month; are able to read and write in Thai and can be contacted by telephone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Thai women have a history of severe psychiatric illness, or have other illnesses that could be responsible for the fatigue other than cancer such as iron deficiency anemia, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. With regard to anemia, women must have a certain hemoglobin in the normal range at baseline. They also cannot have acute or chronic bone, joint, or muscular abnormalities that would increase the risk of falls and injury. Women scheduled to receive concurrent radiation therapy are not eligible.