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Aims and objectives: To measure cancer‐related fatigue (CRF), self‐care agency (SCA) and fatigue self‐care strategies, and to explore the relationship between CRF and SCA. Background: Cancer‐related fatigue has been consistently rated as the most elusive, common and severe of symptoms that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience. Despite its frequency and severity, CRF is poorly managed. A renewed focus on supporting self‐care among patients with cancer has been found to reduce symptom burden, empower patients and improve patient satisfaction. Understanding the link between self‐care agency (i.e. capability and willingness to self‐care) and CRF levels will help practitioners to better support individuals on the cancer journey. Design: A descriptive, correlational survey design was employed. Methods: Patients (n = 362) undergoing chemotherapy with a primary diagnosis of breast, colorectal, Hodgkin's and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma cancers were recruited from four oncology centres in one city in the South of Ireland. Participants completed the Piper Fatigue Scale‐Revised, Appraisal of Self‐care Agency Scale and a researcher‐developed Fatigue Self‐Care Survey. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between CRF and self‐care agency using a dichotomous dependent variable score of four as the cut‐off between those deemed to be fatigued (≥4) and those not fatigued (<4). As recommended by the EQUATOR Network, the STROBE checklist of items for cross‐sectional studies is used to report the study. Results: The incidence of CRF was high with 75% of participants scoring clinically relevant CRF. Higher SCA (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93–0.99, p = .011) was associated with decreased odds of developing CRF. Having non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.29–7.07, p = .011) was associated with increased odds of developing CRF. Conclusions: Patient's undergoing chemotherapy experience significant fatigue. Higher capability for self‐care is associated with lower fatigue. The promotion of SCA and self‐care strategies can impact on CRF. Relevance to clinical practice: Understanding the link between self‐care abilities and fatigue can lead to more individualised and tailored approaches to CRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ireland has a mixed model of healthcare delivery with a public healthcare system funded by general taxation and a large private healthcare insurance system, covering 43% of the population in 2012 and 2016. We set out to examine disparities in outcomes among patients with breast cancer treated in a private hospital compared to national outcomes over a comparable period., Methods: Medical records of patients diagnosed with early (Stage 1-3 as per AJCC version 5) breast cancer between 2010 and 2015 at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland were reviewed. Staging was confirmed and 5-year disease specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. DSS was compared to 5-year net survival (NS) figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) for a comparable period (2010-2014)., Results: DSS (Bon Secours) and NS (NCRI) are summarized in Table 5 and Fig. 2. 5-year survival figures are numerically higher in the private hospital compared with national data for individual stage. Taking stages 1 to 3 combined, the 95% confidence intervals do not cross, indicating statistical significance., Conclusions: We found evidence of superior outcomes in patients with early breast cancer treated at a private hospital compared with national outcome figures. This was demonstrated in 'all comers' (stages 1-3 combined), and particularly in patients with stage 3 breast cancer. Potential reasons for this disparity include differences in socioeconomic status, health-seeking behaviours and/or underlying health status between the two populations included. Differences in extent or timeliness of access to therapies may also contribute., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.)