A latent profile analysis of self-regulatory fatigue and its relationship with activation in patients receiving chemotherapy for breast carcinoma: An observational study

This study explores the profiles of self-regulatory fatigue (SRF) in patients with breast cancer who received chemotherapy and their influencing factors and to analyze the relationships between these profiles and patient activation. A total of 315 individuals with breast cancer who received chemotherapy were chosen using convenience sampling between January and April 2024, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted, comprising a self-administered basic information questionnaire, the SRF Scale, and the Patient Activation Measure. SRF profiles were identified utilizing latent profile analysis, and factors that might influence the SRF profiles identified were analyzed employing the chi-square test and multiple regression analysis. Further, differences in activation among patients with the identified SRF profiles were assessed using an analysis of variance. The SRF of patients with mammary carcinoma receiving chemotherapy could be divided into 3 potential profiles: a high SRF, cognitively weakened group (29.2%), a moderate SRF, borderline group (46.7%), and a low SRF, behavioral stabilization group (24.1%). Medical payment method, disease duration, disease stage, number of chemotherapy-related symptoms, and whether or not the patient had undergone surgery for breast cancer were factors associated with patient SRF (P < .05). The 3 potential SRF profiles showed notable variations in patient activation levels (F = 83.707, P < .001). SRF was categorized into 3 profiles in individuals with mammary carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy. Healthcare professionals should focus on patients with low income, long disease duration, advanced disease stage, many chemotherapy-related symptoms, and who have undergone breast cancer surgery. In addition, SRF is closely related to patient activation, suggesting that interventions should be targeted based on these different SRF profiles to improve patient activation.