Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the fatigue levels and self-care behaviors (SCB) of patients with breast cancer (BC) and the relationship between fatigue levels and SCB. Material and Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 132 individuals diagnosed with BC between November 2022-February 2023. Introductory Information Form, Cancer Fatigue Scale and Self-Care Behavior Scale According to Self-Care Deficit Theory in Chemotherapy Patients were used as data collection tools in the study. Results: The majority of the participating patients (90.9%) experienced symptoms of weakness and fatigue. Mean Cancer Fatigue Scale score was 21.29±8.23 and the mean Self-Care Behavior Scale According to Self-Care Deficit Theory in Chemotherapy Patients score was 76.44± 11.19. A weak, significant, negative correlation was found between Cancer Fatigue Scale and Self-Care Behavior Scale according to Self-Care Deficit Theory in Chemotherapy Patients scores (r=-0.344, p<0.01). Conclusion: In conclusion, the results obtained in the present study revealed that the fatigue level and SCB of patients with BC were at a moderate level. As fatigue levels increased, SCB decreased. Patients receiving cancer treatmant should be monitored for symptoms, and their SCB should be tracked and evaluated at regular intervals.
Keywords: Nursing; breast neoplasms; self-care; fatigue
Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, meme kanserli [breast cancer (BC)] hastaların yorgunluk düzeylerini ve öz bakım davranışlarını [selfcare behaviors (SCB)] belirlemek ve yorgunluk düzeyleri ile SCB arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Tanımlayıcı ve korelasyonel tipteki bu çalışma Kasım 2022-Şubat 2023 tarihleri arasında BC tanısı almış 132 birey ile yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada veri toplama aracı olarak Tanıtıcı Bilgi Formu, Kanser Yorgunluk Skalası ve Kemoterapi uygulanan hastalarda Öz Bakım Yetersizliği Kuramına Göre Öz Bakım Davranışları Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan hastaların çoğunluğu (%90,9) halsizlik ve yorgunluk semptomları yaşamaktadır. Kanser Yorgunluk Skalası puan ortalaması 21,29±8,23 ve Kemoterapi Hastalarında Öz Bakım Eksikliği Kuramına Göre Öz Bakım Davranışları Ölçeği puan ortalaması 76,44±11,19 idi. Kanser Yorgunluk Skalası ve Kemoterapi Uygulanan Hastalarda Öz Bakım Yetersizliği Kuramına Göre Öz Bakım Davranışları Ölçeği puanları arasında zayıf, anlamlı, negatif bir korelasyon bulundu (r=-0,344, p<0,01). Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, bu çalışmada elde edilen bulgular BC'li hastaların yorgunluk düzeylerinin ve SCB'nin orta düzeyde olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Yorgunluk seviyeleri arttıkça SCB azalmıştır. BC tedavisi alan hastalar semptomlar açısından izlenmeli ve hastaların SCB düzenli aralıklarla takip edilmeli ve değerlendirilmelidir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Hemşirelik; meme neoplazileri; öz bakım; yorgunluk
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