Article type
Abstract
Background:Palliative care, centered around the individual and their family, has evolved with the continuous advancements in cancer treatment that extend life. However, fatigue symptoms are a common and distressing side effect of treatment. Therefore, screening, assessing, and managing fatigue in palliative care can improve the quality of life of cancer patients after treatment.
Objective:Through a scoping literature review, this study aims to compile and analyze literature on the screening, assessment, and management of fatigue symptoms in palliative care to construct clinical care recommendations suitable for the local context.
Method:This article follows the five-step approach proposed by JBI for conducting a scoping literature review. A literature search was conducted in four databases: Ovid MEDLINE, UpToDate, JBI Evidence Summary, and the Google search engine, up until December 31, 2022. The search included studies in both Chinese and English, limited to clinical guidelines. Using the PRISMA inclusion and exclusion criteria, the literature was screened, and two independent reviewers analyzed and synthesized the data using the The Appraisal of Guideline for Research & Evaluation Ⅱ(AGRERE II) tool.
Results:Eleven guidelines on the screening, assessment, and management of fatigue in palliative care cases were included. The literature synthesis identified three aspects and 39 recommendations, including: (1) Screening and assessment with 11 items, among which the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) are the most commonly used assessment tools; (2) Sixteen non-pharmacological nursing interventions, including physical training, nutritional therapy, and psychosocial interventions; (3) Twelve pharmaceutical management items, with the majority of literature indicating that medication is not recommended for fatigue symptoms.
Conclusion:This scoping literature review summarizes the main recommendations for screening, assessing, and managing fatigue symptoms. Clinical care recommendations for fatigue symptoms prioritize screening with NRS 4 or above for initial assessment to provide appropriate non-pharmacological interventions centered around the individual case, and to avoid the excessive misuse of medication in treatment.
Objective:Through a scoping literature review, this study aims to compile and analyze literature on the screening, assessment, and management of fatigue symptoms in palliative care to construct clinical care recommendations suitable for the local context.
Method:This article follows the five-step approach proposed by JBI for conducting a scoping literature review. A literature search was conducted in four databases: Ovid MEDLINE, UpToDate, JBI Evidence Summary, and the Google search engine, up until December 31, 2022. The search included studies in both Chinese and English, limited to clinical guidelines. Using the PRISMA inclusion and exclusion criteria, the literature was screened, and two independent reviewers analyzed and synthesized the data using the The Appraisal of Guideline for Research & Evaluation Ⅱ(AGRERE II) tool.
Results:Eleven guidelines on the screening, assessment, and management of fatigue in palliative care cases were included. The literature synthesis identified three aspects and 39 recommendations, including: (1) Screening and assessment with 11 items, among which the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) are the most commonly used assessment tools; (2) Sixteen non-pharmacological nursing interventions, including physical training, nutritional therapy, and psychosocial interventions; (3) Twelve pharmaceutical management items, with the majority of literature indicating that medication is not recommended for fatigue symptoms.
Conclusion:This scoping literature review summarizes the main recommendations for screening, assessing, and managing fatigue symptoms. Clinical care recommendations for fatigue symptoms prioritize screening with NRS 4 or above for initial assessment to provide appropriate non-pharmacological interventions centered around the individual case, and to avoid the excessive misuse of medication in treatment.