Relationship between Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Patients with Cancer

암환자의 피로와 수면의 질과의 관계

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of fatigue and quality of sleep in patients with cancer. Method: The data was collected from January to February 2001. Study objects were recruited K university hospital in Busan, Korea. Their fatigue was measured using the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale developed by Piper et. al(1998), and quality of sleep was measured using Quality of Sleep Questionare by Oh et. al(1998). Result: 1) The fatigue score was mean $114.80{\pm}34.88$(range: 22-220). The sub dimension that showed behavior/severity score at $33.70{\pm}13.89$, affective score at $24.23{\pm}3.33$, sensory score at $27.74{\pm}12.51$, and cognitive/mood score at $29.11{\pm}3.71$. And sleep quality score was mean $37.32{\pm}8.18$. 2) There was a significant difference in religion(F=4.157, P= .008), present therapy(F=2.536, P= .043), past therapy(F=6.625, P= .000), major caregiver(F=3.133, P= .028), and change of weight(F=7.965, P=.006), according to general characteristics in the fatigue in patients with cancer. 3) There was a significant difference in present pain(t=-2.103, P= .037) and change of weight(F=5.484, P=.005), according to general characteristics in the sleep quality in patients with cancer. 4) There was a significant negative correlation between fatigue and quality of sleep(r=- .340, P= .000). Conclusion: Patients with cancer experience in fatigue. Increase in fatigue are associated with decreases in quality of sleep. Nurses must provide patients with nursing care about the occurrence of fatigue and interventions to deal with sleep disturbance.