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Understanding experiences of cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer after their cancer treatment: a qualitative content analysis

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A Correction to this article was published on 05 March 2024

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Abstract

Purpose

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is an important symptom affecting the quality of life of patients with lung cancer. However, research on the characteristics of CRF in lung cancer and their relationship to cancer treatment is limited. We aimed to explore the unique features of CRF in patients with lung cancer, and investigate the influencing factors.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 adult patients with lung cancer until data saturation was reached. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. An inductive coding process and deductive content analysis incorporating the established CRF domains were employed. Patient data from electronic medical records were used for data triangulation.

Results

The analysis revealed five themes of CRF: (1) energy depletion, the double burden of illness and treatment, and daily life impediments; (2) feeling down and anxious; (3) neurovascular disturbances and changes in sensory perception; (4) cognitive impairment; and (5) personal and social isolation. CRF tended to improve over time, except for persistent emotional fatigue beyond 6 months. Patients who underwent surgery followed by adjuvant cancer treatment exhibited the most diverse CRF symptoms. The concurrent chemoradiation therapy group experienced significant physical fatigue, whereas the radiosurgery group reported distinct emotional fatigue. Certain factors, such as exercise, can serve as both alleviating and aggravating factors for CRF.

Conclusion

Tailored interventions that take into account the multidimensional symptoms of CRF and patient characteristics are crucial. These findings will guide healthcare professionals when implementing patient-centered symptom management and patient education.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the study participants for their time and voluntarily participation. We also would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea for its financial support and thank Editage (www.editage.co.kr) for English language editing.

Funding

This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (Grant No. HI18C1944, HF22C001100).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Beom-Joon Lee

    Present address: Division of Allergy, Immune and Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

  2. Jeong-Won Shin & Kwan-ll Kim

    Present address: Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonary & Allergy System), Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

  3. Jeong-won Shin and Beom-joon Lee have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Allergy, Immune and Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jeong-Won Shin & Kwan-ll Kim

  2. Department of Internal Medicine (Pulmonary & Allergy System), Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Beom-Joon Lee

  3. Department of Nursing, Suwon Science College, Hwaseong, Republic of Korea

    Soojin Chung

  4. Accreditation & Evaluation Team 2, Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing Education, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Ki Seon Lee

  5. Department of Nursing, Kyung Hee University College of Nursing Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jee-In Hwang

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. BJL and KIK obtained funds for the project. JWS, KSL, SJC and JIH: Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed. JWS and JIH: prepared the first draft of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jee-In Hwang.

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Conflict of interest

All authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kyung Hee University, Korean Medicine Hospital (KOMC IRB No. 2018–12-005–008).

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Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The original online version of this article was revised: Author names Jeong-Won Shin, Beom-Joon Lee, Ki Seon Lee and Kwan-Il Kim are corrected.

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Shin, JW., Lee, BJ., Chung, S. et al. Understanding experiences of cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer after their cancer treatment: a qualitative content analysis. Qual Life Res 33, 975–987 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-023-03578-9

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