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Is there a negative influence of fatigue on Quality of life?

Borde Ondarra, Amaia (2011) Is there a negative influence of fatigue on Quality of life?

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Abstract:Objectives. Fatigue is a commonly experienced symptom of patients with musculoskeletal diseases. The purpose of this study was to identify the extent to which fatigue interferes with the patients’ physical and psychological quality of life while controlling for the effects of pain and physical functioning. Methods. Participants were 207 patients with musculoskeletal diseases of an Outpatient clinic for Rheumatology in Enschede, the Netherlands. The correlation coefficients were calculated between four dimensions of health related quality of life, fatigue, pain and physical functioning. In addition, a two-step bloc wise regression analysis was conducted in order to find out what the unique informative value of fatigue is in the explanation of health related quality of life. In the first step, pain and physical functioning served as independent variables, while in the second step three dimensions of fatigue (fatigue severity, effect and coping) were attached as additional independent variables. Results. Strong correlations were found between the four concepts of quality of life as measured by the SF-36. In addition, relative strong correlations were found between the independent variables, especially among the three dimensions of fatigue and between pain, fatigue severity and effect. After controlling for physical functioning and pain, fatigue explained between 4.2% and 8.2% of patients role, social and psychological functioning. Conclusions. The current study indicates that RA related fatigue is – besides pain – an important factor in the explanation of patients health related quality of life. As RA fatigue affects quality of life, an intervention that improves the impact of fatigue might be expected to change the wider well-being of patients. A combined treatment of pain, physical functioning and fatigue is likely the most promising option for future RA treatment.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/60933
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