Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance in Arabic Cancer Patients after Completion of Therapy: Prevalence, Correlates, and Association with Quality of Life

Mohammed Al Maqbali, Ciara Hughes, Jane Rankin, Lynn Dunwoody, Eileen Hacker, Jackie Gracey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
128 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and sleep disturbance are 2 of the most common and distressing cancer symptoms that negatively affect quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of, and factors contributing to, fatigue and sleep disturbance in Arabic-speaking cancer patients in Oman after completion of their cancer treatment.

METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was used. Data were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index where a score of >5 indicated as poorer sleep, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue a score of ≤34 indicating clinically significant fatigue, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General.

RESULTS: Of the 369 patients who participated, 77.5% (n = 286) reported clinically significant fatigue, and 78% (n = 288) reported poor sleep. Fatigue (P < .05) was significantly associated with age, cancer site, months since diagnosis, type of treatment received, and comorbidity. Those experiencing fatigue and poor sleep had the lowest quality of life among the cancer patients studied.

CONCLUSION: Fatigue and sleep disturbance are significant problems for the Arabic patients diagnosed with cancer. Both fatigue and sleep disturbance should be routinely assessed in the case of such patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Routine assessments of fatigue and sleep disturbance are recommended so that appropriate interventions and treatment management plans can be introduced to reduce fatigue and improve sleep quality among patients with cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)378-387
Number of pages10
JournalCancer Nursing
Volume44
Issue number5
Early online date14 May 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Fatigue
  • Arabic
  • Cancer
  • Sleep disturbance
  • quality of life
  • Quality of life

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