Effectiveness of nurse-led exercise on fatigue among patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and distressing symptoms among patients receiving cancer treatment, significantly affecting physical, emotional and social well-being. Pharmacological options for managing CRF are limited, whereas structured exercise programs have shown promising results in improving energy level and quality of life.

This quasi-experimental, non-randomised, active-controlled intervention study aims to assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led exercise program in reducing fatigue among adult cancer patients undergoing treatment in a selected hospital in Mangaluru. A total of 60 (30 intervention, 30 control) participants will be enrolled.

The intervention group will receive a structured supervised exercise program that comprises walking, strengthening exercise using a medicine ball and a range of motion activities, conducted twice daily for 15 days. The control group will receive routine cancer care without additional exercise. Fatigue level will be measured using Piper Fatigue Scale-- revised (PFS-R) at baseline (day 0), day 7 and day 15.

Data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The study hypothesises that the nurse-led exercise will significantly reduce fatigue level compared to standard care, supporting the roles of nurses in delivering cost-effective, non-pharmacological interventions in oncology care.