Abstract

Background and Purpose

Cancer related fatigue is one of the most prevalent distressing symptoms which are under-reported, under-diagnosed, and undertreated in the world. However, due to lack of studies as well as lack of cancer registry, the prevalence and associated factors of cancer related fatigue in developing countries remain ambiguous. Therefore, our aim was to fill this gap in the study setting in particular and the country in general.

Relevance

This study may show the burden of CRF in the study area and help to take possible actions.

Participants/Subjects

A total 286 study participants, with the response rate of 95.5% were included. Most of the participants were female 173 (63.4%) with a mean age of 46 ± 16 year. All the participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique.

Methods: - An institutional based cross sectional study design was conducted on 286 participants. An interview was done using semi-structured questioner. Brief Fatigue Inventory score was used as a data collection tool.

Analysis

The collected data was coded, entered and cleaned using EPI Info version 7 and then after exportation, the data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant in the final multivariable logistic regression model. Finally, the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were estimated and interpreted.

Results: - The overall prevalence of clinically significant cancer related fatigue among cancer patients was 63.8%. About 36.3% of cancer patients were severely fatigued, 27.5% reported moderate level of fatigue. The contributing factors that had statistically significant association with cancer related fatigue were: Age <40 years [AOR= 3.742; 95% CI: 1.157-12.103], BMI <18.5 [AOR= 0.363; 95% CI: 0.154-0.856], Anxiety [AOR= 3.548; 95% CI: 1.543-8.159], Pain [AOR= 2.718; 95% CI: 1.315-5.618] and Clinical Stage I and Stage II [AOR= 4.049; 95% CI: 1.670-9.818] and [AOR= 5.715; 95% CI: 2.113-15.460], respectively.

Conclusions: - The prevalence of clinically significant cancer related fatigue was moderate (63.8%). Age, BMI, clinical stage, anxiety and pain were factors which had statistically significant association with CRF. Focus should be given for the prevention and treatment of CRF. More rigor research is recommended.

Implications

If the magnitude and contributing factors of CRF is identified, this may help physiotherapist and other health care providers to develop effective preventive and treatment protocols.

This study may inspire physical therapists and other researchers to do more rigor research on other CRS. Policy makers and planners may use the finding of this study to allocate appropriate resources for the rehabilitation of patients with CRF.

It may help to reintegrate the sufferers with the community and their work. It can be used as a reference in further studies including systematic reviews on this topic and may add its own input for the scientific world.

Ethics approval

The ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethical Review Committee and Institutional Review Board of Mekelle University. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from FHCSH and the oncology unit.

Keywords: - Cancer, fatigue, Ethiopia