Fatigue in Advanced Cancer Patients: Congruence Between Patients and Their Informal Caregivers About Patients' Fatigue Severity During Cancer Treatment With Palliative Intent and Predictors of Agreement.
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Date
2016-09ICR Author
Author
Poort, H
Peters, MEWJ
Gielissen, MFM
Verhagen, CAHHVM
Bleijenberg, G
van der Graaf, WTA
Wearden, AJ
Knoop, H
Type
Journal Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Context Informal caregivers (ICs) are increasingly involved in the monitoring of symptoms during advanced cancer patients' treatment with palliative intent. A common but subjective symptom during this extended treatment phase is fatigue.Objectives This exploratory longitudinal study aimed to determine agreement between patients and ICs about patients' fatigue severity. In addition, predictors of agreement over time were studied.Methods A sample of 107 patients with advanced cancer (life expectancy ≥ six months) and their ICs completed the subscale fatigue severity of the Checklist Individual Strength based on the patient's status at baseline and six months later. This eight-item subscale has a validated cutoff to determine the presence of clinically relevant levels of fatigue. ICs' own fatigue severity, strain, self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction were examined as predictors of agreement.Results A total of 107 dyads completed measures at baseline and 69 dyads six months later. At baseline, ICs' significantly overestimated patients' fatigue severity (P < 0.001) with a moderate amount of bias (Cohen's d = 0.48). In 81 of the 107 dyads (76%), there was congruence about the presence or absence of severe fatigue. On a group level, congruence did not significantly change over time. On a dyad level, there was a tendency to either remain congruent or reach congruence. Next to baseline congruence, ICs' fatigue severity and strain predicted ICs' fatigue ratings (R(2) = 0.22).Conclusion Most ICs accurately predict presence or absence of clinically relevant levels of patients' fatigue. ICs' own fatigue severity and strain should be taken into account as they influence agreement.
Collections
Subject
Humans
Neoplasms
Fatigue
Terminal Care
Severity of Illness Index
Longitudinal Studies
Time Factors
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Middle Aged
Caregivers
Female
Male
Diagnostic Self Evaluation
Research team
Clinical and Translational Sarcoma
Language
eng
Date accepted
2016-02-29
License start date
2016-09
Citation
Journal of pain and symptom management, 2016, 52 (3), pp. 336 - 344