ObjectiveTo study the effect of graded walking exercise program on cancer-related fatigue(CRF) in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

MethodsA total of 90 patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into the intervention group and control group, with 45 cases in each group.The control group was treated with routine chemotherapy guidance, and the intervention group was treated with graded walking exercise program for a total of 8 weeks of intervention.The amount of walking exercise, CRF degree distribution, cancer-related fatigue scale(CFS) score and walking distance of 6-minute walking test(6MWT) were compared between the two groups.

ResultsThe amount of walking exercise in the intervention group was(8 295±912) steps/day, which in the control group was(3 102±1 113) steps/day, and the difference of which was statistically significant(P < 0.01).There was no significant difference in CRF degree distribution between the two groups before chemotherapy and 4 weeks after intervention(P>0.05), and the CRF degree distribution in the intervention group was significantly better than that in the control group at 8 weeks after intervention and 3 months after intervention(P < 0.01).There was no significant difference in CFS scores between the two groups before chemotherapy and 4 weeks after intervention(P>0.05), and the CFS score in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 8 weeks after intervention and 3 months after intervention(P < 0.01).The CFS score in the intervention group gradually decreased after the intervention(P < 0.01), and which in the control group gradually increased after the intervention(P < 0.01).There was no significant difference in 6MWT walking distance between the two groups before chemotherapy and 4 weeks after intervention(P>0.05), and the 6MWT walking distance in the intervention group at 8 weeks after intervention and 3 months after intervention was greater than that in the control group(P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).The 6MWT walking distance in the intervention group did not change significantly from pre-chemotherapy to the eighth week of intervention(P>0.05), but the 6MWT walking distance at 3 months after the intervention was higher than that before the intervention, 4 weeks after the intervention and 8 weeks after the intervention(P < 0.05).The change of 6MWT walking distance in the control group showed a downward trend during the intervention(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe graded walking exercise program can reduce CRF in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy, effectively increase the 6MWT walking distance after intervention, and the effect is obvious at the beginning of 8 weeks of intervention.