[Applying fatigue practice guidelines in clinical care: examples of adult leukemia patients]

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms experienced by cancer patients. The high-dose chemotherapy regimen given to those with hematological malignancies makes this group in particularly urgent need of fatigue management during hospitalization. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published practice guidelines for cancer-related fatigue. However, the complexity of these guidelines has prevented their widespread application in Taiwan. Most healthcare providers remain uncertain as to how and when to assess fatigue. This article summarizes 2011 NCCN fatigue practice guidelines, including those related to assessing fatigue patterns, intensity, and causes and choosing appropriate interventions based on patient fatigue level. The authors further share their experiences using the guideline in caring for adult hematological patients with different fatigue levels. Through these examples, we hope healthcare providers will properly apply practice guidelines and provide better care to patients experiencing fatigue.