Fatigue, sleep disturbance, and quality of life among breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine fatigue, sleep disturbances, and quality of life (QOL) among patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 201 breast cancer patients in a hospital. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: The fatigue scores showed significant differences depending on exercise and duration since diagnosis. The sleep disturbance scores showed significant differences depending on duration since diagnosis. QOL scores showed significant differences depending on exercise, duration since diagnosis, and treatment site. Fatigue and sleep disturbances (r=.40, p<.001) showed statistically significant positive correlations, while fatigue and QOL (r=-.55, p<.001), and sleep disturbances and QOL (r=-.45, p<.001) showed statistically significant negative correlations. The multiple regression analysis, which was used to determine the variables influencing on QOL after radiotherapy, resulted in a significant regression model (F=23.88, p<.001), which accounted for approximately 45% of the explanatory power. Fatigue (β=-.39, p<.001) and sleep disturbances (β =-.27, p<.001) were revealed to adversely affect quality of life. Conclusion: The nursing intervention is necessary to reduce fatigue and sleep disturbance and to promote exercise in order to enhance QOL of patients with breast neoplasm while receiving radiotherapy.