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Background: Improvement of the quality ofcancer-related fatigue clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is an important issue in oncology. Aim: This study aimed to determine the methodological quality of CPGs about cancer-related fatigue management using the AGREE II instrument. Method: This study involved a systematic search, followed by a descriptive study, to evaluate the methodological quality of CPGs about CRF using the AGREE II instrument in 2018. A comprehensive search was conducted on different websites and databases to find the eligible published guidelines from the observation time to Jan 2018. After screening the guidelines based on eligibility criteria, the selected CPGs were assessed by five independent appraisers by means of the updated AGREE II instrument developed in 2013. Results: According to the results, applicability and editorial independence domains had obtained low quality scores. However, the scores of the rest of the domains were indicative of a favorable quality level. Implications for Practice: It is essential to improve the quality of CRF CPGs and design high-quality CPGs especially in terms of applicability and editorial independence domains.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms reported among women with breast cancer and is the most prominent side effect of cancer treatments. This complication leads to a number of problems in the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of humor therapy on the fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing external radiation therapy. METHODS: This study was a clinical trial with parralel planning and before and after. The experiment was conducted on 58 cancer patients receiving radiation therapy in 5 weeks -from the beginning of July 2013 until early October 2013 for a period of 3 months. The research was assigned to two groups of humor therapy and control group (each group consisting of 29 subjects who were randomly assigned to their group). The patients in the experimental group attended the humor therapy sessions twice a week for a month (a total of 8 sessions). The sessions were held using approaches like playing comedy clips, telling jokes and taking part in fun games. Fatigue questionnaires were completed at the end of the first, second and the fifth week as the post-test. The control group patients received routine care. Ultimately, the two groups were put to comparison. FINDINGS: Fatigue in the laughter therapy group rose from 0.93±0.74 in the first week to 3.36±1.35 in the fifth. In the control group, on the other hand, it went from 1.01±0.96 in the first week to 7.29±2.67 in the fifth week (p=0.001). Thus, fatigue in the first, second, third, fourth and the fifth week was of significant statistical difference. (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that humor therapy is largely effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue. The health system could enhance cancer patients’ well-being and improvement by providing them with a delightful, joyous environment.

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common and most distressing side effects of cancer and its treatment. Non-pharmacological interventions may have lower side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate non-pharmacological approaches to treat cancer related fatigue. We searched the databases of ISI, Medline, Google scholar, SID, Magiran and Iranmedex, The literature search was conducted between the years 1980-2014. The results of 87 full text relevant articles were evaluated. Most evidence, suggests the effectiveness of exercise and acupuncture on reducing cancer-related fatigue during and after cancer treatments. Studies on psychosocial support, sleep and nutrition promotion, and some of complementary and alternative medicine, such as massage, touch, herbal medicine, yoga, relaxation and meditation are possibly useful and effective to reduce or eliminate the cancer-related fatigue. All treatments discussed in this study were noninvasive(except acupuncture), low risk and relatively inexpensive methods, which can be used with current treatments or even be replaced for drugs. It is hoped that these studies will be used for evidence-based practice to reduce fatigue in cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]