Social isolering — ett omvårdnadsproblem hos cancerpatienter med fatigue

Fatigue is the most common symptom among cancer patients. It is a complex and elusive concept which is multifactorial, and a personal experience. Functional capacity is important to satisfy one's needs in daily living when fatigue is a problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate what the phenomenon fatigue in daily living can imply to a group of persons with diagnosed cancer. Qualitative methods have been used. Six interviews were analysed with a method inspired by grounded theory. Social isolation is shown to be a consequence of the patient's being so tired that he or she lacks enough energy to be together with other people and be as active as before. Daily living is influenced by changes in their life situation that make the respondents create routines in order to be able to adapt and to have their needs satisfied. The results suggest a model that can be useful in planning care for cancer patients and obtaining more knowledge concerning questions that can be asked about the patients' wellbeing.