MOSAIC

Project leads: 

Dr. Martina Schmidt, Dr. Patricia Blickle

Project description: 

Many people with cancer experience a severe form of exhaustion, which is often referred to as “fatigue.” Feeling tired in the evening or after exertion is normal and usually disappears again after getting enough sleep and rest. Fatigue, on the other hand, is a specific type of exhaustion. Those affected often feel unusually tired, weak, or drained—even without having exerted themselves beforehand. This fatigue does not simply go away with sleep or rest and can significantly impact daily life.

Those affected report a wide range of experiences with their fatigue. Some feel primarily physically exhausted and have little energy for everyday activities. Others describe problems with concentration or memory, difficulty motivating themselves, or the feeling that they recover only slowly from stress. Just as “cancer” is an umbrella term for many different types of cancer, “fatigue” likely encompasses many different types of fatigue. The goal of the MOSAIC study is therefore to identify different forms or “types” of fatigue in people with a recent or former cancer diagnosis. 

The MOSAIC study is a cross-sectional, anonymous survey conducted online via the fragdiepatienten.de platform and was implemented in cooperation with the DKFZ Cancer Information Service. The survey includes descriptions and statements from people affected by fatigue, and participants are asked to indicate whether these descriptions reflect their personal experiences. The findings are intended to help improve our understanding of the various forms and manifestations of fatigue and to develop a new questionnaire that captures these. In the long term, this should help to better identify different types of fatigue and tailor treatment and support services more effectively to the needs of those affected.

Current status: 

The recruitment has started in August 2026. Participation in the study is possible via the following link: https://survey.hifis.dkfz.de/MOSAIC