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Breaking the vicious circle of fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Falk, K; Granger, BB; Swedberg, K; Ekman, I
Published in: Qualitative health research
October 2007

Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Characteristics of the experience and consequences of fatigue might be unique in these patients. The authors interviewed 15 patients with CHF and analyzed focused online observations of the content discussed in an Internet patient discussion group concerning CHF using grounded theory. The results suggest that fatigue is a circular process in which the consequences of fatigue further exaggerate the experience. However, fatigue could be alleviated by restorative activities. The bodily experience of fatigue was defined as lacking strength and energy and feeling sleepy. Patients reported the mental aspects of fatigue as demoralizing and that they frequently experienced intellectual deficiency. Fatigue leads to sacrificing, which was manifested as refraining, denying oneself, and being isolated. The restoring activities included the categories involuntarily attentive, socially interactive, and mentally absorbed. Interventions aimed to relieve fatigue should focus on restorative activities.

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Published In

Qualitative health research

DOI

ISSN

1049-7323

Publication Date

October 2007

Volume

17

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1020 / 1027

Related Subject Headings

  • Sweden
  • Quality of Life
  • Nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Humans
  • Heart Failure
  • Female
  • Fatigue
 

Citation

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Falk, K., Granger, B. B., Swedberg, K., & Ekman, I. (2007). Breaking the vicious circle of fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure. Qualitative Health Research, 17(8), 1020–1027. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307306914
Falk, Kristin, Bradi B. Granger, Karl Swedberg, and Inger Ekman. “Breaking the vicious circle of fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure.Qualitative Health Research 17, no. 8 (October 2007): 1020–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307306914.
Falk K, Granger BB, Swedberg K, Ekman I. Breaking the vicious circle of fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure. Qualitative health research. 2007 Oct;17(8):1020–7.
Falk, Kristin, et al. “Breaking the vicious circle of fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure.Qualitative Health Research, vol. 17, no. 8, Oct. 2007, pp. 1020–27. Epmc, doi:10.1177/1049732307306914.
Falk K, Granger BB, Swedberg K, Ekman I. Breaking the vicious circle of fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure. Qualitative health research. 2007 Oct;17(8):1020–1027.
Journal cover image

Published In

Qualitative health research

DOI

ISSN

1049-7323

Publication Date

October 2007

Volume

17

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1020 / 1027

Related Subject Headings

  • Sweden
  • Quality of Life
  • Nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Humans
  • Heart Failure
  • Female
  • Fatigue