Fatigue Level and Contributing Factors Among Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Background: cancer disease and its treatment are leading cause to fatigue, fatigue is subjective data experienced by cancer patients measured in various method in order to assisting patient to regain daily activity, restore strength, and to improve quality of life. Aim of the study: the current study aimed to assess fatigue level and contributing factors among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods and materials: A quantitative design cross-sectional study conducted to assess level of fatigue and contributing factors among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at oncology and hematology center in Kirkuk city from period of July to December 2023, sampling method was purposive sampling consist of 184 patients diagnosed with cancer and prescribed chemotherapy as a treatment. A constructed questionnaire was adopted to achieve the objective of the study consist of four parts; part one demographic data (7 items), part two health status (7 items), fatigue level scale (11 items) which scaled with (always, sometime, and never), and part four contributing factors (9 items). Data collected by interview techniques with the patients after obtaining consent to participate in the current study. Results: The study concluded that the highest age group were 61 years and more, female, the majority having chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and heart disease, smokers, most of samples were diagnosed with breast cancer, almost all of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy three times per month intravenously. Regarding fatigue level, the majority of cancer patients in the current study were moderate and sever fatigue level. Concerning the most contributing factors that rises the fatigue among cancer patients were depression, lack of appetite, insomnia, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and pain respectively. Conclusions: the majority of cancer patients in the current study were moderate and sever fatigue level. the most contributing factors that rises the fatigue among cancer patients were depression, lack of appetite, insomnia, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, and pain respectively.