Faculty Collaboration Database

Evaluation of fatigue and related factors in survivors of pediatric cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplant. J Child Health Care 2022 Sep;26(3):383-393

Date

04/30/2021

Pubmed ID

33913779

DOI

10.1177/13674935211014748

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85105526114 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   4 Citations

Abstract

This study sought to better understand specific factors contributing to fatigue in survivors of pediatric cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). As part of a larger study evaluating long-term psychosocial functioning of pediatric cancer survivors, N = 87 participants completed measures assessing fatigue and emotional and behavioral functioning. Chart abstraction was used to catalog diagnosis, treatments received, treatment intensity, and late effects. Results suggest clinically significant fatigue in n = 4 (4.6%) of survivors participating in this study. Fatigue was greater for participants with more recent diagnoses and who were more recently off treatment and was positively associated with parent and self-report of internalizing (emotional) and externalizing (behavioral) symptoms. Participants with more severe late effects suffered greater fatigue; however, fatigue was not associated with treatment intensity or therapy type. Fatigue is an important variable to consider in evaluating the social, emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being of cancer and HSCT survivors. Interventions are needed to address fatigue directly, while also addressing both contributing factors to fatigue and potential negative outcomes that result from fatigue in survivorship.

Author List

Karst JS, Hoag JA, Anderson LJ, Schmidt DJ, Schroedl RL, Bingen KM

Authors

Lynnette J. Anderson NP APP Mgr Hybrid in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Kristin M. Bingen PhD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jennifer A. Hoag PhD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffrey S. Karst PhD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Debra Schmidt NP APP Hybrid in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Child
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Humans
Neoplasms
Quality of Life
Survivors