Management of fatigue in children with cancer: a survey of pediatric hematology-oncology professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the United States and Canada
Menée aux Etats-Unis et au Canada par enquête auprès de 528 professionnels de santé en onco-hématologie pédiatrique, cette étude analyse leurs connaissances et pratiques concernant la prise en charge de la fatigue
Purpose: Children with cancer frequently experience fatigue that affects their quality of life, yet current management practices remain poorly understood. We aimed to assess health care professionals’ (HCPs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding fatigue management in pediatric oncology.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey of pediatric hematology-oncology HCPs in the United States of America and Canada to assess fatigue education, management practices, barriers to fatigue management, and perspectives on future clinical trials for fatigue.. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression. A framework approach was used to analyze qualitative data from open-ended survey response items.
Results: In total, 528 HCPs completed survey: 49% oncologists, 27% nurses, and 23% nurse practitioners. Only 29% and 32% of HCPs attended educational events on fatigue and screened patients for fatigue primarily through verbal assessments during outpatient settings, respectively. Although 91% of HCPs emphasized importance of assessing fatigue, only 18% were familiar with fatigue management guidelines, and only 1% followed them. Commonly recommended fatigue interventions included sleep hygiene (91%), physical exercise (82%) and rest (78%). Themes for improving fatigue management included enhancing education for HCPs and patients, implementing routine fatigue screening, and disseminating guidelines and fatigue management resources. Barriers to effective fatigue management were insufficient education, lack of routine screening, and limited access to fatigue screening tools. Most HCPs (94%) supported future clinical trials for fatigue management, and 86% preferred these trials to test non-pharmacological interventions for fatigue management.
Conclusions: Most HCPs acknowledge the importance of assessing fatigue, but significant gaps remain in education, routine screening, and guideline implementation. Addressing barriers such as insufficient education and limited access to resources is essential for improving fatigue management practices.
Supportive Care in Cancer , résumé, 2025