疲憊是乳癌病患在接受化學治療時常見及困擾的副作用,實有必要一介入性措施來減輕疲憊。本研究旨在測試自我調節方案對初次接受化學治療乳癌病患因應疲憊之成效。採雙組後測之類實驗研究設計。實驗組於第一次至第二次化學治療期間,進行每週一次,每次約20分鐘,為期三週之自我調節方案;對照組則接受一般的常規照護,隨後兩組於第二次及第三次化療當日,治療前兩小時分別執行後測一及後測二。研究結果顯示,隨著化學治療之進行,實驗組病患在因應症狀困擾與情緒困擾的能力有顯著提升,進而使疲憊程度呈顯著降低(p<.01),約改善61.49%。然對照組則顯示因應能力越差,疲憊程度越加重。研究結果可供未來臨床發展化療疲憊照護的參考依據,並可將本研究所發展的自我調節方案納入初次化療病患照護流程的一部分。
Fatigue is a common and disturbing side-effect for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. An Intervention to minimize fatigue is needed. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of the self-regulation protocol on coping with the fatigue among patients with breast cancer receiving first chemotherapy. A quasi-experimental posttest-only with comparison group design was used. The experimental group patients attended a 20 minutes self-regulation protocol once per week, last three weeks during their first to the second cycles of chemotherapy. The control group patients received the routine nursing care that was usual practice at these institutions. After the intervention, two follow-up tests were carried out for the two groups at two hours prior to receiving their second (post-test 1) and third (post-test 2) chemotherapy. The experimental group had significantly improved the ability on coping with the symptom distress and emotional distress during chemotherapy; that is, their fatigue levels decreased significantly (p<.01) and improved 61.49%. For comparison group, however, the lower coping ability they had, the higher fatigue levels showed. The finding of this study may be useful as a reference in developing chemotherapy-related fatigue care during clinical care of future cancer patients. In addition, the self-regulation protocol of the study for patients receiving initial chemotherapy could be an integral part of future nursing intervention.