癌症患童之疲憊

Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients

疲憊（fatigue）是接受化學治療或放射線治療患童普遍經歷的症狀，對有關於癌症病童治療，主要目標為用積極的化學或放射線治療以「治癒疾病」，因而忽略了疲憊議題。本專論針對疲憊定義、疲憊相關理論模式、疲憊與癌症病童的相關研究、疲憊的測量工具、疲憊的相關因素及疲憊對生活品質的影響等議題加以探討，以做為臨床醫護人員於臨床實務照護癌症病童之指引。

Fatigue is a common symptom in children with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Because the treatment of cancer in pediatric oncology patients involves intensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment aimed at curing the condition, fatigue tends to be ignored by health care providers. This article aims to discuss ”fatigue” from the following perspectives: definition, related conceptual/theoretical framework, studies related to pediatric oncology patients, assessment of fatigue, factors related to quality of life. The ultimate goal of this review is provide guidelines for health care providers dealing with fatigue in pediatric oncology patients.