Possible links between behavioral and physiological indices of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion in advanced cancer

Olson, Kärin; Turner, A. Robert; Courneya, Kerry S.; Field, Catherine J.; Man, Godfrey C.W.; Cree, Marilyn; Hanson, John

doi:10.1007/s00520-007-0298-8

Cited by 47 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…This has been recognized as an obstacle for research in this field [20]. The problem is aggravated by the fact that much research depends on reports of subjects who in general use the terms interchangeably [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fatigue, sleepiness, and physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis

et al. 2010

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Fatigue is a frequent and disabling symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of the study was to compare fatigue and sleepiness in MS, and their relationship to physical activity. Eighty patients with MS rated the extent of experienced fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS) and sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS). The relationship between the scales was analysed for the scales as a whole and for single items. The clinical status of the patients was measured with the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS). In addition, physical activity was recorded continuously for 1 week by wrist actigraphy. The mean scores of fatigue and sleepiness were significantly correlated (FSS vs. ESS r=0.42). Single item analysis suggests that fatigue and sleepiness converge for situations that demand self-paced activation, while they differ for situations in which external cues contribute to the level of activation. While fatigue correlated significantly with age (r=0.40), disease severity (EDSS, r=0.38), and disease duration (r=0.25), this was not the case for sleepiness. Single patient analysis showed a larger scatter of sleepiness scores in fatigued patients (FSS>4) than in non-fatigued patients. Probably, there is a subgroup of MS patients with sleep disturbances that rate high on ESS and FSS. The amount of physical activity, which was measured actigraphically, decreased with disease severity (EDSS) while it did not correlate with fatigue or sleepiness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fatigue, sleepiness, and physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis

et al. 2010

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“…In addition, anti-cancer treatments and the side effects of other pharmacologic treatment such as narcotic analgesics and anti-depressants can play a role in causing fatigue [11]. The emotions of patients with cancer such as anxiety certainly have a role in modulation of the fatigue sensation.…”

Section: Fatiguementioning

confidence: 99%

A rehabilitation program for patients with gastroesophageal cancer—a pilot study

Chasen

Bhargava

2010

Support Care Cancer

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“…The drive to re-pattern routine daily activities in order to adapt to decreasing amounts of energy was an important part of our findings not seen in our studies in Canada (Olson 2007;Olson, Turner, Courneya, Field, Man, Cree, 2008) or Thailand (Pongthavornkamol, Olson, Soparatanapaisrn, Chatchaisucha, Kamkhon, Potaros et al, 2011). This finding shows one of the subtle but important differences in the meaning of fatigue in our three countries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…The work described in this paper is built on different conceptualisations of fatigue based in stress theory (Selye, 1950(Selye, , 1956(Selye, , 1971Aistars, 1987;Cameron, 1997;Glauss, 1998), Using this approach, Olson conducted an extensive review of the literature and a series of qualitative studies in populations who experienced fatigue for different reasons, and proposed that fatigue was a behavioural marker for the inability to adapt to stressors associated with advanced chronic disease and treatment (Olson 2007;Olson, Krawchuk, Quddusi, 2007;Olson, Turner, Courneya, Field, Man, Cree, 2008). These stressors reduced the inability to adapt by causing a decline in cognitive functioning, muscle endurance, sleep quality, social interactions, and an increase in emotional reactivity.…”

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confidence: 99%

Understanding the meaning of fatigue at the end of life: An ethnoscience approach

Kirshbaum

Olson

Pongthavornkamol

et al. 2013

European Journal of Oncology Nursing

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Purpose: Fatigue is a devastating state of body and mind associated with distress at the end of life. We report the results of the third in a series of papers outlining a novel approach we have developed for understanding the meaning of fatigue by exploring how this meaning is shaped by beliefs and values. The aims of the study were to examine the perception and experiences of fatigue held by patients attending a hospice in England; identify the behavioural patterns that distinguish fatigue from tiredness and exhaustion; provide conceptual definitions of tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion.Method: An Ethnoscience design was selected. The sample comprised nine people who attended a hospice between May and December 2009. Inclusion criteria included: at least 18 years of age, experiencing fatigue, able to provide informed consent and resident in the selected city in northern England for 10 years. Data were collected from two consecutive semi-structured interviews for each participant. Results:We found that tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion are markers of progressive functional decline. Fatigue had two dimensions: 1) Mental Challenge, which included: emotional effects, cognitive realisation of decline and mental tenacity and 2) Physical Challenge, which included: limitations in leisure activities, limitations in functional roles and re-patterning routines. 2Conclusions: This study provides evidence that symptom experience is socially constructed, which has potential implications for the development of effective interventions.

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Possible links between behavioral and physiological indices of tiredness, fatigue, and exhaustion in advanced cancer

Abstract: Interventions for fatigue have been limited by a lack of understanding about its etiology. Hypotheses arising from the EFF; suggest a new direction for further study that focuses on interactions among cognitive function, sleep quality, nutrition, and muscle endurance.

Cited by 47 publications

References 62 publications

Fatigue, sleepiness, and physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis

Fatigue, sleepiness, and physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis

A rehabilitation program for patients with gastroesophageal cancer—a pilot study

Understanding the meaning of fatigue at the end of life: An ethnoscience approach

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