Adherence to Cancer-Related Fatigue Management Guidelines Among Chemotherapy Patients: The Role of Symptom Burden and Socioeconomic Factors

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients. This cross-sectional study involving 387 cancer patients assessed adherence to fatigue management guidelines and identified predictive factors in chemotherapy patients. Data were collected through structured interviews. Cancer-related fatigue was assessed using the Cancer Fatigue Scale-15, and adherence to guidelines was measured using a structured 30-item questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis identified predictors of adherence. The findings revealed that 71.3% experienced moderate to severe fatigue, and 91.5% demonstrated inadequate adherence to fatigue management guidelines. A negative correlation was found between fatigue severity and overall adherence. Knowledge (β = 0.328), pain severity (β = -0.245), fatigue severity (β = -0.219), education level (β = 0.168), financial status (β = 0.117), and cancer stage (β = -0.114) were significantly associated with adherence. Participants perceived low adherence to evidence-based management guidelines. Lack of knowledge, high symptom burden, and low socioeconomic status represent barriers to adherence. The findings recommend educating patients, supporting symptom management, and addressing healthcare system barriers to improve cancer-related fatigue care.