Relationship between Hope and Fatigue Characteristics in Newly Diagnosed Outpatients with Cancer

Purpose/Objectives: To examine the relationship between hope and fatigue (intensity, duration, and interference) in newly diagnosed patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Design: Cross-sectional and correlational. Setting: Oncology outpatient clinics of two medical centers in northern Taiwan. Sample: 182 patients diagnosed with various types of solid tumors in the previous six months and receiving chemotherapy treatment. Methods: Questionnaires were used to assess patients' fatigue intensity, duration, and interference, as well as level of hope and related background information before drug administration at a chemotherapy visit. The relationship between fatigue characteristics and level of hope was verified using Pearson 's correlation analysis. Main Research Variables: Hope, fatigue intensity duration, and interference. Findings: Compared to fatigue intensity, interference and its duration have a stronger association with level of hope. Further analysis of the seven individual items of fatigue interference found that interference with mood status and relations with others is significantly associated with level of hope in newly diagnosed patients. Conclusions: Fatigue duration and interference caused by fatigue, particularly in mood status and relations with others, are associated with the perception of hope in newly diagnosed patients. Implications for Nursing: Clinical nurses should assess intensity of fatigue as well as its interference and duration to better support patients' perception of hope by reducing interference caused by fatigue