The experience of people with rheumatoid arthritis living with fatigue: A qualitative metasynthesis

Primdahl, Jette; Hegelund, Annette; Lorenzen, Annette Gøntha; Løppenthin, Katrine; Dures, Emma; Esbensen, Bente Appel

Abstract

Objectives
To identify, appraise and synthesise qualitative studies on the experience of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related fatigue.

Methods
We conducted a qualitative metasynthesis encompassing a systematic literature search in February 2017, for studies published in the past 15 years, in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, SveMed, PsychINFO and Web of Science. To be included, the studies had to report the experience of living with fatigue among adults with RA. The analysis and synthesis followed Malterud's systematic text condensation.

Results
Eight qualitative articles were included, based on 212 people with RA (69% women) and aged between 20 and 83 years old. The synthesis resulted in the overall theme A vicious circle of an unpredictable symptom'. In addition, the synthesis derived four subthemes: being alone with fatigue'; time as a challenge'; language as a tool for increased understanding' and strategies to manage fatigue'. Fatigue affects all areas of everyday life for people with RA. They strive to plan and prioritise, pace, relax and rest. Furthermore, they try to make use of a variety of words and metaphors to explain to other people that they experience that RA-related fatigue is different from normal tiredness. Despite this, people with RA-related fatigue experience feeling alone with their symptom and they develop their own strategies to manage fatigue in their everyday life.

Conclusions
The unpredictability of RA-related fatigue is dominant, pervasive and is experienced as a vicious circle, which can be described in relation to its physical, cognitive, emotional and social impact. It is important for health professionals to acknowledge and address the impact of fatigue on the patients' everyday lives. Support from health professionals to manage fatigue and develop strategies to increase physical activity and maintain work is important for people with RA-related fatigue.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 17, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Mar 20, 2019
• Publication Date: Mar 20, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 21, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 25, 2019
• Journal: BMJ Open
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-6055
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: e024338
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024338
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/850377
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024338
• Contract Date: Mar 25, 2019