• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2014

This study is a single group before-and-after study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of additional acupuncture therapy for lung cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy. Acupuncture therapy was conducted twice a day at least for a week. The effectiveness outcome measures were the Korean Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-L) and the Korean Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) at the baseline, discharge and four weeks after discharge, and visual analogue scale(VAS) checked daily from the baseline to discharge. Ten patients were enrolled, one patient had excluded due to acute exacerbation of lung cancer. The data of nine patients showed some improvement in all of FACT-L, FACIT-F and VAS, however, there were no statistical significance. Additional acupuncture therapy for lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy might be beneficial to improve the quality of life(QoL) and to improve fatigue. Prospective trials with complex traditional Korean medicine interventions are needed to further investigation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of art therapy to control fatigue in cancer patients during course of radiotherapy and its impact on quality of life (QoL). Materials and Methods: Fifty cancer patients receiving radiotherapy received weekly art therapy sessions using famous painting appreciation. Fatigue and QoL were assessed using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) Scale and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) at baseline before starting radiotherapy, every week for 4 weeks during radiotherapy, and at the end of radiotherapy. Mean changes of scores over time were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model. Results: Of the 50 patients, 34 (68%) participated in 4 sessions of art therapy. Generalized linear mixed models testing for the effect of time on mean score changes showed no significant changes in scores from baseline for the BFI and FACIT-F. The mean BFI score and FACIT-F total score changed from 3.1 to 2.7 and from 110.7 to 109.2, respectively. Art therapy based on the appreciation of famous paintings led to increases in self-esteem by increasing self-realization and forming social relationships. Conclusion: Fatigue and QoL in cancer patients with art therapy do not deteriorate during a period of radiotherapy. Despite the single-arm small number of participants and pilot design, this study provides a strong initial demonstration that art therapy of appreciation for famous painting is worthy of further study for fatigue and QoL improvement. Further, it can play an important role in routine practice in cancer patients during radiotherapy.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.98-108
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between fatigue and quality of life (QOL) of Korean cancer inpatients. Methods: The data were collected from May to August 2007. Study subjects were recruited at D, Y and A university hospitals in Daegu and Kyungpook, Korea. The research instruments utilized in this study were fatigue (FACT-F) and quality of life (FACT-G) in Korean version 4. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation using SPSS Win 12.0 program. Results: Fatigue of subjects showed a significant difference according to the type of treatment, change in weight, performance status, exercise, and sleep. The QOL of subjects showed a significant difference according to the purpose of treatment, change in weight, performance status, exercise, and sleep. The mean score of fatigue was 22.48 and the mean score of QOL was 55.52. The fatigue was negatively related to QOL, physical well-being, emotional well-being, and functional well-being. Conclusion: The results suggest the needs for intervention in order to reduce fatigue and to improve QOL of cancer inpatients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.420-430
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test a hypothetical model of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and depression in people with gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: A purposive sample of 198 patients undergoing chemotherapy was recruited from November 2014 to July 2015. The instruments were Everyday Cognition (ECog), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), and M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Gastrointestinal Cancer Module. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and path analysis. Results: CRCI was directly affected by cancer symptoms (${\beta}=.19$, p=.004) and fatigue (${\beta}=.56$, p<.001)($R^2=47.2%$). Depression was directly affected by fatigue (${\beta}=.48$, p<.001) and CRCI (${\beta}=.27$, p<.001). However, The impact of cancer symptoms on depression was confirmed through the mediating effect of CRCI. Conclusion: Results indicate that in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing chemotherapy along with the direct physiologic effects (fatigue, symptoms) of cancer treatment may have altered cognitive function leading to depression.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive function on the quality of life of gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: Data were collected from a total of 141 participants. The measurements used were Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy for fatigue (FACIT-F), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for cognitive function (FACT-Cog). Results: Significant correlations were found among fatigue, anxiety, depression, cognitive function, and quality of life. The mean score of quality of life was 59.60 out of 108, and 68% of the variance in QOL was explained by fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive function. Cognitive function was the most influential factor (β=.30), followed by anxiety (β=-.27), depression (β=-.24), and fatigue (β=-.18). We found that the better the cognitive function, the lower the anxiety and depression, and the lower the degree of fatigue, the higher the quality of life. Conclusion: A nursing program for managing the changes in fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive function should be provided to enhance maintenance and the improvement of the quality of life for gastrointestinal cancer patients who receive chemotherapy.