Article

PURPOSE: To describe how fatigue is experienced by stroke survivors, how they
understand and deal with fatigue and how fatigue impacts their daily life.
METHOD: A qualitative interview study was carried out as part of a larger
longitudinal study investigating the prevalence, characteristics and contributing
factors to post-stroke fatigue. Thirty-two participants (15 men and 17 women)
were strategically sampled to explore the experiences of fatigue. Participants
were interviewed at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-stroke. Data were analysed
applying a Grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Patients clearly described and
differentiated their experience between: (1) tiredness as an ordinary life event
and (2) fatigue as a post-stroke life condition. Three fatigue-transforming
strategies were identified, being on a mission, settling for less and stalling.
Stalling seemed to put the stroke survivors in a particularly vulnerable
situation. Over time, some participants moved between these two tiredness/fatigue
manifestations and their range of strategies. CONCLUSIONS:
Post-stroke fatigue is
a new life experience different from ordinary tiredness and seems to be a
significant problem in the stroke survivors' struggle to regain a new normalcy.
Intervention studies are needed to reduce the impact of post-stroke fatigue on
coping and recovery.

Langue : ANGLAIS