Fatigue Related COPD From Patient's Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Understanding the patient's experience of fatigue and their coping mechanisms is crucial for effective management.
• The impact of fatigue on daily activities and emotional well-being in COPD patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the level of patient-reported fatigue in individuals with COPD.
• To identify the primary causes of fatigue as perceived by COPD patients.
• To explore the various strategies employed by COPD patients to cope with fatigue.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 62 patients diagnosed with COPD.
• Data collection utilized the Individual Introduction Form, Fatigue Intervention Form, and Visual Analog Scale.
• Statistical analysis included Chi-Square, Fisher Freeman Halton, and Pearson Correlation analyses.

Main Results:

• COPD patients reported moderate fatigue (6.91 ± 2.81 out of 10), occurring approximately 5 days per week.
• Commonly cited causes of fatigue include stress, illness, and advanced age.
• Reported consequences of fatigue encompass unhappiness, anger, sedentary behavior, and inability to perform housework.

Conclusions:

• Moderate fatigue is frequent in COPD patients, significantly impairing daily life.
• Patients commonly adopt energy conservation strategies to manage fatigue.
• Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, should routinely assess fatigue and offer guidance on coping strategies for COPD patients.