항암 화학요법을 받는 유방암 환자의 피로 예측요인

Predictive Factors of Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Purpose: This study was to investigate on the predictors of fatigue and to offer the basic data for nursing intervention of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: The subjects were 166 patients at ambulatory care unit in a university hospital in B city. The data was collected from February 4 to March 11, 2009. Results: Fatigue of the subjects showed statistically significant differences according to educational level(F=5.633, p<.001), age(F=3.008, p=.032), the frequency of chemotherapy((F=2.891, p=.037), and pain(F=11.146, p<.001). Fatigue showed an inverse relationship in a medium degree with quality of life(r= - .556, p= .000) and quality of sleep(r= - .393, p= .000). The study on the overall influences of the factors on fatigue with the help of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that spiritual dimension of quality of life was the most powerful factor among the factors on subjets fatigue by 32.3%, followed by the side effects of chemotherapy, depression, physical dimension of quality of life, frequency of chemotherapy and duration of Chemotherapy by 56.3%. Conclusion: Influences of the factors on fatigue of the breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy experienced moderate level of quality of life, side effect, depression, and the frequency and duration of chemotherapy.