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ISEO – Inaugural Conference July 22nd & 23rd 2026 - organized by DKFZ

22–23 Jul 2026
Heidelberg Congress Center
Europe/Berlin timezone

Organizing Team

Effect of a Multidisciplinary Intervention on Fatigue in Lymphoma Survivors with Persistent Fatigue- A Randomized Controlled Trial (the REFUEL-trial)

23 Jul 2026, 15:30
15m
Heidelberg Congress Center ( Heidelberg Congress Center )

Heidelberg Congress Center

Heidelberg Congress Center

Czernyring 20 69115 Heidelberg Germany
3 - Talk Oral Session

Speaker

Dr Synne-Kristin Hoffart Bøhn (Oslo University Hospital)

Description

Background: Persistent fatigue is a prevalent, complex and distressing late effect after cancer, but few treatment options exist. We tested the effect of a multidisciplinary intervention on fatigue in lymphoma survivors with persistent fatigue (≥6 months).
Patients and methods: Survivors mean 7 years post-treatment were randomly assigned to usual care (n=75) or a 12-week multidisciplinary intervention (n=75), consisting of patient education, exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy and nutritional counseling. The primary outcome was total fatigue score assessed by the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (FQ) (range 0 to 33) 3 months post- randomization. Secondary outcomes included physical and mental fatigue assessed by FQ, health-related quality of life assessed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and adherence to dietary guidelines measured by a diet index (range 0 to 19). Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0) and 3 (T1), 6 (T2) and 9 (T3) months post-randomization. Effects were analyzed with baseline-adjusted linear mixed models for repeated measures.
Results: The intervention group reported lower total fatigue than usual care group at T1 (12.8 SD 6.5 vs. 16.9 SD 6.5). The between-group difference (BGD) was -3.5 (95% CI, -5.4, -1.6), P<0.001. The intervention group also had less physical (BGD -2.4, 95% CI, -3.8, -1.0) and mental fatigue (BGD -1.1, 95% CI, -1.7, -0.4), higher physical (BGD 3.8, 95% CI, 0.2, 7.3) and role (BGD 9.2, 95% CI, 0.9, 17.5) functioning, and higher global health status/quality of life (BGD 9.5, 95% CI, 3.5, 15.4), VO2peak (BGD 1.1 mL/kg/min, 95% CI, 0.2, 1.9) and diet index (BGD 2.5, 95% CI, 1.5, 3.6) than usual care group at T1. The BGD was reduced at T2 and T3 for most outcomes.
Conclusions: The 12-week multidisciplinary intervention had a positive short-term effect on fatigue in lymphoma survivors with persistent fatigue.

Keywords

persistent fatigue, cancer survivors, lymphoma, multidisciplinary intervention

Abstract submitters declaration yes
Conflict of Interest & Ethical Approval yes

Author

Dr Synne-Kristin Hoffart Bøhn (Oslo University Hospital)

Co-authors

Dr Tone Skaali (Department of Clinical Service, Oslo University Hospital and Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of Oslo) Dr Torbjørn Wisløff (Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital) Dr Cecilie Essholt Kiserud (Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital) Dr Alexander Fosså (Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital) Dr Unn-Merete Fagerli (Department of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Dr Mette Seland (Department of Clinical Service, Oslo University Hospital) Dr Kristin Valborg Reinertsen (Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital) Dr Corina Rueegg (Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo Universit Hospital and Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich) Prof. Rune Blomhoff (Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo and Department of Clinical Service, Oslo University Hospital) Kerry S. Courneya (Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada) Dr Elisabeth Edvardsen (Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Physical Performance,Norwegian School of Sports Sciences) Dr Gunhild Maria Gjerset (Department of Clinical Service, Oslo University Hospital) Prof. Jon Håvard Loge (Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of Oslo) Tormod Skogstad Nilsen (Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Science, Oslo, Norway; Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway) Line Oldervoll (Centre for Crisis Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen and Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Lene Thorsen (Department of Oncology and Department of Clinical Service, Oslo University Hospital, Norway)

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