Cancer-related fatigue in non-curative cancer.

Fatigue is reported to be the most common and distressing symptom throughout the cancer journey. From pre diagnosis to the palliative stage of the disease, 70%-100% of patients will experience fatigue at some stage of the disease journey. It can have a profound effect on the patient quality of life affecting every aspect of a patient’s life including independence, personal and social relationships, and decisions about treatments; it also reduces motivation and trust in their bodies to participate in a full and active life. The nurse is ideally placed to encourage patients to adjust to the changes in their energy levels. By actively managing their fatigue through a holistic approach, which includes recognition and discussion of the patient’s personal experience of fatigue, set achievable goals which reduces stress and promotes a sense of control for the patient. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate cancer related fatigue and identify the best practice in assessment and management, to improve the quality of life for patients with non-curative cancer. A critical literature review suggest that the use of an accurate assessment tool and management guidelines can lead to corrective action quickly and efficiently and lead to an increase in quality of life for those patients. The dissertation considers how such guidelines can be implemented into the local clinical area based on change and leadership theories and the application of the change clinical tool. Lewin’s Force Field Analysis has been used to identify the barriers to successful implementation