Fatigue Experience in Cancer Patients
Fatigue Experience in Cancer Patients
The goal of this research study is to learn what it is like when a patient with cancer has
 fatigue, as well as how these patients define fatigue. Researchers want to use this
 information to create questionnaires that may more accurately measure fatigue and its effects
 in patients with cancer.
STUDY PARTICIPATION:

 If you agree to take part in this study, you will be interviewed by a member of the study
 staff and then asked to complete a series of questionnaires and verbal (spoken) questions.

 During the interview, you will be asked to describe what fatigue means to you and what it is
 like for you to have fatigue. The interview will take place while you are at M. D. Anderson
 receiving your routine care. You will be interviewed alone, and the information gathered
 during the interview will be kept strictly confidential. The interview will take about 30
 minutes to complete. It will be audiotaped so that participants' responses can be fully
 analyzed.

 You will then be asked to complete 4 questionnaires and answer 2 separate questions.

 The first questionnaire will include questions about your personal identifying information
 (such as your age and marital status).

 You will then be asked 1 question about your quality of life and another question about how
 well you are performing day-to-day activities.

 You will then be asked to complete a second questionnaire in which you will rate your fatigue
 level and how fatigue interferes with your daily activities.

 You will be asked to complete a third questionnaire about your opinion of the fatigue
 questionnaire (the second questionnaire). For example, you will be asked if the fatigue
 questionnaire was easy to understand and to complete. Learning your opinion about this
 questionnaire will help researchers learn what important questions may be missing from the
 questionnaire.

 Finally, you will then be asked to complete a questionnaire that asks you to rate the
 severity of a list of 13 symptoms and how much these symptoms interfere with some of your
 daily activities.

 The questionnaires and additional questions should take a total of 15-20 minutes to complete.

 After you have completed the interview and questionnaires, a research assistant will review
 your electronic medical record to collect information about your disease and treatments.

 LENGTH OF STUDY:

 Your participation in this study will be over after you complete the interview, the
 questionnaires, and the additional questions.

 This is an investigational study. Up to 60 patients will take part in this study. All will be
 enrolled at M. D. Anderson.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. 18 years of age or older

 2. Ability to speak and read English

 3. Diagnosis of cancer, currently receiving treatment, receiving supportive care, or
 surviving after treatment

 4. Self report of current experience of fatigue

 5. Consent to participate

 6. Patient from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center inpatient unit or outpatient clinic

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Inability to understand the intent of the study

 2. Medical condition that would preclude participation in an interview session lasting 40
 minutes

 3. Diagnosis of active psychosis or severe cognitive impairment confirmed by the
 patient's attending physician.