Correlation between self-regulatory fatigue and physical activity in lung cancer patients undergoing comprehensive treatment

TL;DR

This study explores how self-regulatory fatigue relates to physical activity in lung cancer patients undergoing treatment and finds that moderate activity may help reduce fatigue.

Contribution

The study identifies specific correlations between self-regulatory fatigue and physical activity levels in lung cancer patients, offering insights into managing fatigue during treatment.

Findings

Self-regulatory fatigue in lung cancer patients is negatively correlated with moderate-to-low intensity physical activity.

Gender, physical activity intensity, and pre-diagnosis exercise habits significantly influence self-regulatory fatigue.

Engaging in moderate-to-low intensity leisure and household activities may help reduce self-regulatory fatigue.

Abstract

Self-regulated fatigue is often assessed in studies of chronic diseases. Research is needed on the self-regulation of fatigue and physical activity in lung cancer patients undergoing treatment, and the impact of these factors on this population.

The goal of this study is to investigate the current status, influencing factors, and correlation between self-regulatory fatigue and physical activity in lung cancer patients undergoing comprehensive treatment.

We used a convenience sampling method to enroll 188 lung cancer patients admitted to two tertiary hospitals in Chengdu from October 2024 to April 2025. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire and two scales: the Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale (SRF-S) and The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form (IPAQ-L).

The mean self-regulatory fatigue score was 42.19 ± 9.06. The total metabolic equivalent (MET) of physical activity was 544.00 (0.00, 1386.00) MET-min/week, with leisure-time activity accounting for 429.00 (0.00, 1188.00) MET-min/week (data presented as median and interquartile range). Significant negative correlations were observed between Self-Regulatory Fatigue total scores and energy expenditure from housework, leisure activities, as well as total physical activity expenditure. Furthermore, self-regulatory fatigue was negatively correlated with both moderate-intensity and low-intensity physical activity, but positively correlated with high-intensity physical activity (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified gender, physical activity intensity, and pre-diagnosis exercise habits as significant independent influencing factors of self-regulatory fatigue in these patients (P < 0.05), collectively explaining 30.6% of the total variance (R² = 0.306).

Engaging in appropriate leisure and household activities at moderate-to-low intensity may help alleviate the severity of self-regulatory fatigue in lung cancer patients undergoing comprehensive treatment. Healthcare providers should encourage appropriate activity to reduce the psychological burden and conserve self-regulatory resources.

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