Effects of a one-to-one fatigue management course for people with chronic conditions and fatigue

OBJECTIVE. We assessed the impact of a one-to-one fatigue management course on participants' fatigue, self-efficacy, quality of life, and energy conservation behaviors. METHOD. This observational study used a one-group, pretest-posttest, follow-up design. Forty-nine people with chronic conditions and fatigue participated in the one-to-one fatigue management course in outpatient and community-based settings. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale was used to measure fatigue; the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General measured quality of life; and the Self- Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies Assessment was used to measure self-efficacy. RESULTS. Participants showed significant reductions in fatigue and significant increases in self-efficacy and quality of life at posttest. These beneficial effects were maintained at follow-up. The Social Well-Being subscale was the only measure on which outcomes did not change significantly. CONCLUSION. The one-to-one fatigue management course is a beneficial intervention for people with chronic conditions and fatigue.