Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between related factors: age, sleep disturbance, nausea/vomiting and hematocrit level and fatigue in 66 pediatric cancer patients, aged between 7-15 years, who received chemotherapy at Pediatric Department of three tertiary care government hospitals. The sampling technique used was convenience sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires: a demographic data form, sleep disturbance questionnaire, nausea/vomiting questionnaire and fatigue questionnaire. Data analyses used were descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The study findings revealed that age and hematocrit level were not correlated with fatigue (p > .05). Sleep disturbance and nausea /vomiting were positively correlated with fatigue, r = .609, p = .000 and r = .400, p = .001, respectively. Therefore, healthcare providers, especially nurses, should recognize the importance of the nursing care plan for dealing with symptoms of sleep disturbance and nausea/vomiting in order to relieve fatigue of pediatric patients. Nurses should also advise families about fatigue, related factors, and strategies of dealing with fatigue in order to provide effective care for pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.