Aim: The aim of the study was to assess whether nutritional supplement therapy and ambulation made any difference in the severity of fatigue, and level of physical activity of cancer patients receive radiation therapy compared to those who did not receive the nutritional supplement therapy and ambulation. Introduction: Radiation therapy is well established and effective method of treating malignant disease. The patients receiving radiation therapy were suffering from ill effects of cancer as well as the side effects of radiation therapy. They confined to bed and did not show any interest in surroundings and meeting their personal needs. Physical inactivity brings more fatigue as a result it affects nutritional intake. Maintaining optimal nutrition during cancer treatment is essential to enhance the effectiveness of treatment. Methods & materials: The sample consisted of 60 hospitalized cancer patients of a private hospital receiving radiation therapy (30 samples in experimental group and 30 in control group), selected by non probability purposive sampling method. The experimental group was served with porridge (150 ml) three times a day (morning 8.00am, forenoon 11.30am, and evening 5.00pm) followed by walking in the hospital premises for 15–20 minutes, every day for 30 days in the presence of investigator. Pre and post intervention assessment of fatigue was done using a modified brief fatigue inventory scale by interview method and data on level of physical activity was collected, using an observation schedule. Results: Before the intervention, majority of the samples 28 (93.30%) in the experimental group experienced moderate level of fatigue. After the intervention, the number of samples reduced to mild level of fatigue was 7 (23.30%) and for 23 (76.70%) samples remained the same and also, the mean fatigue score reduced from 51.93 to 38.63. In the baseline observation, majority 23 (76.70%) in the control group had moderate fatigue. On subsequent observation, 3 (10.00%) sample’s fatigue level was increased to severe.   In the experimental group before the intervention 23 (76.70%) samples had poor and 7 (23.30%) samples had moderate physical activity and no one with good physical activity. After the intervention, 9 (30.00%) samples showed good physical activities. In the experimental group, before the intervention the mean score of physical activity was 05.16. After the intervention the mean score of physical activity improved to 12.30. There was a significant association between age, education, occupation, frequency of taking health drink and level of fatigue shown by the cancer patients, (÷2=20.49*; p< 0.05; d f=2). Conclusion: Nutritional supplement therapy and ambulation had a significant effect in reducing the severity of fatigue and improving the performance of physical activity among the hospitalized cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.
Keywords: Nutritional Supplement Therapy; Ambulation; Fatigue; Physical Activity; Radiation therapy.