Effect of the solution-focused brief therapy on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients under adjuvant chemotherapy: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a severe symptom in breast cancer survivors. We aimed to explore the effects of the solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) on CRF in breast cancer patients after lumpectomy or mastectomy under adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: First, 196 patients with primarily diagnosed breast cancer were recruited, screened, and the qualified 160 patients were randomly assigned into the control (routine nursing interventions), and intervention (routine nursing interventions and SFBT) groups. CRF was evaluated using the Chinese version of revised Piper Fatigue Scale. Data were collected at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and post-follow-up (T3). RESULTS: Mild to severe fatigue existed in all qualified participants at T1 and the fatigue symptom went worse with the chemotherapy in control group. In intervention group, the fatigue level decreased at T2 (P<0.05), and went to the similar level at T3 as that at T1. The levels of behavioral, affective, and sensory fatigues in the control group significantly increased at T3 (P<0.05), while no difference was found in the intervention group. This study showed that SFBT effectively decreased CRF in breast cancer survivors after surgery under adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Hence, SFBT might be a beneficial non-pharmacological intervention alone or in combination with other interventions to improve patients’ quality of life.