Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common and debilitating symptom in patients with cancer. Evidence-based non-pharmacological approaches include sleep hygiene, physical activity, nutritional management, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of an interdisciplinary holistic program integrating Chinese and Western therapies for CRF among hospitalized cancer patients receiving integrated care. Approximately 100 participants will be enrolled and followed for up to 3 months.
Eligible hospitalized cancer patients receiving integrated Chinese and Western care will be enrolled after providing informed consent. Participants will complete a CRF questionnaire and receive a non-invasive holistic integrative care program, including patient education, sleep hygiene, exercise guidance, nutritional assessment/intervention, and TCM-related care. The primary endpoint is change in CRF score. Secondary endpoints include TCM constitution assessment, vital signs, anthropometrics, complete blood count, and liver/renal function tests. Participants will be followed for 3 months from enrollment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
86
An interdisciplinary integrative care program combining Western supportive care and Traditional Chinese Medicine to manage cancer-related fatigue in hospitalized oncology patients. Core components include fatigue assessment, patient education and symptom management guidance, sleep hygiene, exercise encouragement, aromatherapy and/or massage, nutrition assessment and counseling, and shared decision-making. Traditional Chinese Medicine consultation may provide acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine according to patient needs and clinical judgment.
Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital
Taichung, Taiwan
Change in Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) Score (0-10)
CRF is assessed using the Taiwan Society of Cancer Palliative Medicine fatigue scale (0-10) during hospitalization. Peak CRF score is defined as the maximum recorded CRF score from admission to discharge. Discharge CRF score is defined as the last in-hospital CRF assessment prior to discharge. The primary outcome is the within-participant change in CRF score from peak to discharge.
Time frame: From admission (baseline) through discharge (last in-hospital assessment; up to 30 days)
Proportion of Participants With Moderate-to-Profound CRF at Discharge (CRF Score ≥4)
Percentage of participants whose discharge CRF score is ≥4 (moderate or above) on the Taiwan Society of Cancer Palliative Medicine fatigue scale (0-10).
Time frame: At discharge (last in-hospital assessment; up to 30 days after admission)
Distribution of CRF Severity Categories at Discharge (0, 1-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10)
Distribution of discharge CRF scores categorized as 0, 1-3, 4-6, 7-8, and 9-10 on the Taiwan Society of Cancer Palliative Medicine fatigue scale.
Time frame: At discharge (last in-hospital assessment; up to 30 days after admission)
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