University of Twente Student Theses
Communication about arthritis-related fatigue : patient-related factors associated with the efficacy of communication about arthritis-related fatigue with the rheumatologist and other relevant healthcare professionals
Cordesmeyer, C. (2014) Communication about arthritis-related fatigue : patient-related factors associated with the efficacy of communication about arthritis-related fatigue with the rheumatologist and other relevant healthcare professionals.
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| Abstract: | Objective: However fatigue is common among people with rheumatic diseases (RDs) causing numerous problems in everyday life, it seems that the issue of fatigue often remains undiscussed in medical consultations. Physician-related factors interfering the communication are already investigated opposed to the patient-related factors. Thus the aim of this study was to get insight in how effective patients with RDs perceive themselves regarding communication about fatigue and to investigate patient-related factors which possibly influence this communication. Method: 127 participants with a RD, recruited via facebook and one forum for rheumatic patients, filled in an online survey. The survey consisted of demographic questions, questions concerning the current situation in communication about fatigue with the rheumatologist or HP, and different validated instruments (Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions (PEPPI) scale, Multi-dimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire II (HAQ-II), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief HEXACO Inventory (BHI). Results: Not even half of the participants (46.67%) are (very) satisfied with the communication about fatigue with their rheumatologist or healthcare professional (HP). 77.17% stated to be the initiator in communication about fatigue. 26.77% talk only seldom or even never about fatigue with their rheumatologist or HP. Participants seem to score lower on the PEPPI scale regarding conversations about fatigue (mean = 16.15, SD = 4.25). Four patient-related factors associated with the perceived self-efficacy in communicating about fatigue with the rheumatologist or HP were identified, namely, sex, fatigue, physical functioning and depression. The best predictor for the outcome on the PEPPI scale is the patients’ satisfaction with the current communication about fatigue. Conclusion: The situation in communication about fatigue still remains unsatisfactory and has to be improved. Patient-related factors make a difference regarding the perceived self-efficacy in communication. The causal association between the patients’ satisfaction and the perceived self-efficacy in communication about fatigue has to be investigated since patient satisfaction leads to better health outcomes. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/66238 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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