Hala Ibrahim Abo-Deif
Cairo University, Egypt
Title: Correlates of fatigue among patients with chronic airway limitation
Biography
Biography: Hala Ibrahim Abo-Deif
Abstract
Chronic fatigue is common, is difficult to measure, can be associated with considerable morbidity, and is rarely a subject of controversy. It is probably the most common symptom of illness affecting sufferers of both acute and chronic conditions. However, a growing interest in the health problem presented by fatigue both in clinical practice and research, coupled with a decreasing number of reported studies on fatigue in the last decade, make an updated and systemic review of factors related to fatigue necessary. Therefore the aim of this study was undertaken to investigate correlates of fatigue among patients with chronic airway limitation. Related factors may be described as any internal or external elements which have an effect on the person, family or community and which contribute to the existence or maintenance of patient's health problems. The study sample compromised 90 patients. The tools utilized for data collections were: a) socio-demographic data sheet. b) A Modified extended version of fatigue questionnaire (MEVFQ) was developed from the combination of two tools; an Arabic version of fatigue questionnaire, composed of two dimensions i.e. physical (7 items) and mental (4 items), the added dimension were, temporal (6 items), behavioral (12 items), sensory (4 items), and affective/ emotional dimension (5 items). The study results indicated that majority of patients (91.11 %) suffered from fatigue as it completely affects their pattern of life. Also, more than two third of the sample (67.2 %) described fatigue as it occurred in severe form. Positive correlation was found between age and duration of disease with behavioral dimension (p=.05). In conclusion, patients with chronic air way limitation CAL reported that fatigue is a common and distressing symptom and the importance of this symptom is generally recognized by health care professionals, also they need more information about the effectiveness of existing interventions for CAL-related fatigue. Nurses are in need to understand the dimensions of fatigue in order to provide effective care for individuals with CAL who experienced it. Further research is required to improve the current management of this debilitating symptom.