Importance of Nursing Intervention in Alleviating Post-Surgical Fatigue for Patients with Oral Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer patients often experience fatigue, a complex and widespread symptom that detrimentally affect their quality of life, but it is frequently underestimated and not adequately treated in clinical environments. Purpose: This investigation sought to identify the occurrence of fatigue in patients who have undergone oral cancer surgery and to outline the importance of nursing interventions for its management. Methods: This investigation was executed at the Regional Cancer Centre based in Tripura, India. Ethical approval and written informed consent were secured from 200 post-operative oral cancer patients, with 100 patients in each group. A comprehensive nursing intervention was implemented exclusively for the test group. The research utilized a randomized control design alongside a quantitative methodology. Furthermore, the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI) scale was assessed. Results: In the test group, a significant number of patients experienced moderate fatigue, with 57% (57 out of 100) reporting this condition. Conversely, in the control group, most participants reported severe fatigue, accounting for 42% (42 out of 100). There was a notable decrease in fatigue among patients in the test group as opposed to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The nursing intervention led to a notable decrease in fatigue among the test group, in contrast to the control group, which showed an escalation in fatigue levels during treatment. The comprehensive nursing intervention that includes tailored education and counselling has given cancer patients a powerful tool to effectively address their fatigue.