Projects per year
Abstract
Objective
Cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) is a common and distressing symptom experienced by teenage and young adult cancer patients (TYAs). This study aimed to explore clinicians' perspectives, practices and challenges in supporting TYAs with CRF.
Method
Ten clinicians from a TYA multidisciplinary team (MDT) participated in semi‐structured interviews which were thematically analysed.
Results
Clinicians perceived CRF as a common, but individual experience for TYAs and framed the broad impact of CRF in the context of TYAs' development. Clinicians' assessment and management of CRF for TYAs varied. Clinicians described a range of challenges affecting their practice in supporting TYAs with CRF, including limited knowledge, difficulties engaging TYAs, inadequate time in consultations and a lack of age‐appropriate resources.
Conclusions
Despite clinicians' good insight into TYAs' unique experiences of CRF, the assessment and management of CRF for TYAs are complicated by numerous challenges. The development of evidence‐based interventions and guidelines, clear pathways of care, and TYA‐friendly resources, measures and programmes, is vital to support clinicians, and TYAs, in managing CRF.
Cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) is a common and distressing symptom experienced by teenage and young adult cancer patients (TYAs). This study aimed to explore clinicians' perspectives, practices and challenges in supporting TYAs with CRF.
Method
Ten clinicians from a TYA multidisciplinary team (MDT) participated in semi‐structured interviews which were thematically analysed.
Results
Clinicians perceived CRF as a common, but individual experience for TYAs and framed the broad impact of CRF in the context of TYAs' development. Clinicians' assessment and management of CRF for TYAs varied. Clinicians described a range of challenges affecting their practice in supporting TYAs with CRF, including limited knowledge, difficulties engaging TYAs, inadequate time in consultations and a lack of age‐appropriate resources.
Conclusions
Despite clinicians' good insight into TYAs' unique experiences of CRF, the assessment and management of CRF for TYAs are complicated by numerous challenges. The development of evidence‐based interventions and guidelines, clear pathways of care, and TYA‐friendly resources, measures and programmes, is vital to support clinicians, and TYAs, in managing CRF.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e13337 |
| Journal | European Journal of Cancer Care |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 4 Oct 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Jan 2021 |
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- 1 Finished
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Doctoral Research Fellowship: Depression in Paediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME)
Loades, M. (PI)
National Institute for Health Research
1/10/16 → 28/02/22
Project: Central government, health and local authorities