Objectives: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a debilitating symptom that significantly affects the quality of life of patients with cancer. Effective management requires accurate documentation and timely implementation of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs), which are considered first-line strategies. This study aimed to assess the documentation of CRF and NPIs in palliative care and evaluate the impact of a standardized operating procedure (SOP) on documentation compliance. The aim of the study is to assess the documentation of CRF and NPIs in palliative care and evaluate the impact of implementing a standardised operating procedure (SOP) on documentation compliance. Materials and Methods: A retrospective audit was conducted in two phases: pre–multidisciplinary team (MDT) induction and post-MDT induction, followed by a re-audit after six months. Documentation rates for CRF and NPIs were statistically analysed, and associated symptom clusters were identified using Epi Info software (Version 7.6.2). Results: CRF documentation improved from 67% in 2021 to 84% in 2022, and further to 98.5% (February 2023) and 89.3% (March 2023) and 96.7% (September 2023). NPI documentation increased from 0% in 2021 to 36% in 2022, and subsequently to 86.5%, 89.9%, and 86.5% in re-audits. Significant symptom clusters associated with CRF included loss of appetite ( p < 0.01), loss of well-being ( p < 0.001), and breathlessness ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: Implementation of an SOP significantly improved CRF and NPI documentation. Identification of key symptom clusters provides important insights for targeted interventions and future research in palliative care.
Priyanshu et al. (Tue,) studied this question.