Temperament and fatigue management in persons with chronic rheumatic disease.

BACKGROUND

In persons with chronic conditions, fatigue is often a disruptive symptom with a devastating impact on overall well-being. Descriptions of experiences with fatigue contribute to advancing knowledge and improving health outcomes.

AIM

To describe the influence temperament has on fatigue representation, self-care strategies, and strategy success.

METHOD

A secondary analysis of an existing database of personal characteristics and symptom experiences of adults with chronic rheumatic diseases was conducted. All participants who reported fatigue at least once during the first week of participation in the study were included. Relationships were examined among demographic variables, temperamental dispositions, and symptom representation.

RESULTS

Significant relationships were demonstrated between perceived symptom seriousness, interference and helpfulness of selected strategies, and both demographic variables and temperamental dispositions.

CONCLUSIONS

When choosing interventions for the individual experiencing fatigue, be aware of demographic data and use assessment techniques to promote positive health practices.