Impact of cancer-related fatigue on quality of life and psychological health among patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant therapy in Taiwan

PURPOSE: Breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant therapy commonly experience cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and multiple psychological symptoms that significantly affect quality of life (QoL). This study examined the prevalence and severity of CRF and explored its associations with multidimensional QoL and psychological distress among Taiwanese women with breast cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan from September 2023 to August 2024. Eighty-four BC patients receiving chemotherapy or targeted therapy completed the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan (BFI-T), Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5), and WHOQOL-BREF. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlations. RESULTS: CRF affected 60.7% of patients (mean BFI-T = 2.38 ± 2.09). QoL was moderate (WHOQOL-BREF = 56.91 ± 9.21), with psychological health scoring the lowest. Sleep disturbances occurred in 72.6% and suicidal ideation in 19.0% of patients. CRF was negatively correlated with QoL (r = -0.572, p < 0.01) and positively with psychological distress (r = 0.481, p < 0.001). Happiness level correlated with QoL (r = 0.652) and inversely with CRF (r = -0.528). CONCLUSIONS: CRF significantly impairs quality of life and psychological well-being in Taiwanese breast cancer patients during adjuvant therapy. To improve survivorship outcomes, routine CRF screening integrated with psychosocial care should be prioritized in oncology nursing practice, and multidisciplinary supportive care should be implemented as part of comprehensive oncology services.