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Fatigue representations in women with heart failure
Sandra K Plach1, Susan M Heidrich, Lee Jeske
1College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Research in Nursing & Health
|September 16, 2006
Summary
Accurate understanding of heart failure (HF) symptoms like fatigue is key for self-care. Women with HF experience fatigue as chronic and serious, impacting well-being and healthcare use.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
- Nursing
Background:
- Effective self-care for heart failure (HF) hinges on accurate symptom representation and behavioral strategies.
- Understanding patient perceptions of HF symptoms is crucial for improving management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe women's representations of fatigue, a common heart failure symptom.
- To examine the relationship between fatigue representations, physical health, healthcare utilization, and psychological well-being.
- To explore age-related differences in fatigue representations among women with HF.
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of 169 women diagnosed with heart failure.
- Assessment of symptom representations, physical health status, healthcare utilization, and psychological well-being.
- Comparison of fatigue representations across different age groups.
Main Results:
- Women generally perceived fatigue as chronic, HF-attributable, and consequential.
- Midlife women reported greater emotional distress and perceived severity of fatigue compared to older women.
- Increased emotional distress from HF-related fatigue correlated with higher healthcare utilization.
Conclusions:
- Women's perceptions of fatigue are linked to their psychological well-being and healthcare needs.
- Age influences the emotional impact and perceived consequences of fatigue in heart failure.
- Targeted interventions addressing symptom representations may enhance self-care and reduce healthcare utilization in women with HF.
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