A Randomized Control Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Counseling on Pain and Fatigue among Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in Selected Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab

Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divided uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer patients face a number of problems of which Pain and Fatigue, the most common problems faced by almost all the cancer patients.

The study was done to evaluate the effect of counseling on pain and fatigue among cancer patients.

The study design was experimental pre test post test control group design. Total of 20 chemotherapy patients, 10 in Counseling and 10 in control group were included. Pain and fatigue was assessed using Numerical pain rating scale and Fatigue severity scale at baseline and after 4 weeks. The cancer patients in intervention group received four sessions within 4 weeks while cancer patients in control group received treatment as usual.

There was significant decrease in pre and post intervention mean Pain, fatigue scores (p>0.05) of cancer patients in intervention group, while significant increase (p> 0.05) in mean pain and fatigue scores (p>0.01) of cancer patients in control group.

Counseling was effective in reducing pain, fatigue among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.