IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/jocnur/v29y2020i5-6p758-769.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The experience of cancer‐related fatigue, exercise and exercise adherence among women breast cancer survivors: Insights from focus group interviews

Author

Listed:
  • Sue Kim
  • Jeehee Han
  • Min Young Lee
  • Min Kyeong Jang

Abstract

Aims and objectives To identify the experience of breast cancer survivors regarding cancer‐related fatigue, exercise and exercise adherence. Background Cancer‐related fatigue is a common symptom among cancer survivors that limits quality of life. Despite exercise being recommended as a viable solution to manage cancer‐related fatigue, relatively few research studies on the experience of cancer‐related fatigue and exercise adherence have been conducted. Design This was a qualitative study to identify breast cancer survivors’ experience of cancer‐related fatigue, exercise and exercise adherence. This paper adhered to the COREQ checklist in reporting. Methods Four focus group interviews were conducted with 16 breast cancer survivors who had fatigue score of 4 out of 10 (moderate fatigue) or greater. Ethical approval was obtained and participants met for focus group interview discussion. The interview guide included questions on cancer‐related fatigue, barriers and facilitators of exercising, strategies for exercise adherence and suggestions for a supportive programme. Results Four themes were identified through thematic analysis: (a) The insidious and overpowering nature of cancer‐related fatigue; (b) exercising when experiencing fatigue surrounded by prevailing myths; (c) multiple barriers to exercise; and (d) facilitative factors to continue exercising despite fatigue. Conclusions Participants’ experience of moderate or greater cancer‐related fatigue prevented them from exercising, despite knowing its importance, and limited them to passive activities. Misconceptions that exercise is associated with lymphedema and risk of recurrence, poor psychosocial self‐image and lack of clear knowledge and exercise programmes for cancer survivors further limited adherence to exercise. In contrast, finding comfort and strength through exercising and interacting with other breast cancer survivors were facilitative factors. Relevance to clinical practice The insights shared by breast cancer survivors experiencing cancer‐related fatigue can contribute to developing an exercise adherence programme as a way to manage and alleviate fatigue and establish healthy survivorship care.

Suggested Citation

  • Sue Kim & Jeehee Han & Min Young Lee & Min Kyeong Jang, 2020. "The experience of cancer‐related fatigue, exercise and exercise adherence among women breast cancer survivors: Insights from focus group interviews," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5-6), pages 758-769, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:29:y:2020:i:5-6:p:758-769
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15114
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15114
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jocn.15114?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ussher, Jane & Kirsten, Laura & Butow, Phyllis & Sandoval, Mirjana, 2006. "What do cancer support groups provide which other supportive relationships do not? The experience of peer support groups for people with cancer," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(10), pages 2565-2576, May.
    2. Karen M Robinson & Linda B Piacentine & Leslie J Waltke & Alexander V Ng & Judy A Tjoe, 2016. "Survivors speak: a qualitative analysis of motivational factors influencing breast cancer survivors’ participation in a sprint distance triathlon," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1-2), pages 247-256, January.
    3. Tereza Raquel de M Alcântara‐Silva & Ruffo Freitas‐Junior & Nilceana MA Freitas & Graziela DP Machado, 2013. "Fatigue related to radiotherapy for breast and/or gynaecological cancer: a systematic review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(19-20), pages 2679-2686, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Barak-Nahum, Ayelet & Haim, Limor Ben & Ginzburg, Karni, 2016. "When life gives you lemons: The effectiveness of culinary group intervention among cancer patients," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1-8.
    2. Annette Felgenhauer & Katharina Kaufmann & Julia Klier & Mathias Klier, 2021. "In the same boat: social support in online peer groups for career counseling," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(1), pages 197-213, March.
    3. Britt Borregaard & Mette Spliid Ludvigsen, 2018. "Exchanging narratives—A qualitative study of peer support among surgical lung cancer patients," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1-2), pages 328-336, January.
    4. Vanessa C. Delisle & Stephanie T. Gumuchian & Danielle B. Rice & Alexander W. Levis & Lorie A. Kloda & Annett Körner & Brett D. Thombs, 2017. "Perceived Benefits and Factors that Influence the Ability to Establish and Maintain Patient Support Groups in Rare Diseases: A Scoping Review," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 10(3), pages 283-293, June.
    5. May Aasebø Hauken & Kari Dyregrov & Mette Senneseth, 2019. "Characteristics of the social networks of families living with parental cancer and support provided," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(15-16), pages 3021-3032, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:29:y:2020:i:5-6:p:758-769. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2702 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.