Poststroke fatigue: the patient perspective

Fatigue is reported as a prevalent symptom post stroke. The purpose of this study is to explore the patent perspective of this symptom, how it is experienced, and its subjective impact on the patient.

The qualitative procedure of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the narratives of 10 subjects with previous stroke, who each undertook a single, semi-structured interview.

Fatigue was a salient symptom for all the patients. Six main themes were identified. Tiredness/sleep was recognized in all the narratives, and themes of restriction, frustration, and determination/coping reflected varying degrees of physical, cognitive, and psychological dimensions to fatigue. Depression/motivation was also identified, reflecting low mood and helplessness. The remaining theme support indicated a social dimension, with patients recognizing the need for professional and familial support. Further subthemes were identified, and the thematic descriptions of the physical and psychosocial aspects indicated the complexity of fatigue and unique patient profiles. A holistic overview of each narrative furthered an understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between these aspects and their impact on the patient. There were prevalent patterns, but these were different for each patient.

A better understanding of the varied dimensions or themes elaborated for poststroke fatigue, and their interrelationships, should help in mitigating its impact. The analysis cautions against giving any simplistic and unitary advice to patients about dealing with fatigue.