Article

An audit was conducted to assess the frequency of fatigue after stroke,
to determine the impact on daily life, and whether it was discussed with
clinicians. METHOD: Patients were recruited from Nottingham University Hospitals
NHS Trust stroke service. Patients were interviewed about their fatigue, and the
Fatigue Severity Subscale (FSS-FAI), Brief Assessment Schedule for Depression
Cards (BASDEC), Barthel Index and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living
(EADL) Scale were administered. RESULTS: 64 patients were recruited, with a mean
age 73.5 years (SD 14.0, range 37-94 years), 37 (58%) as in-patients and 27 (42%)
as outpatients. There were 41 (64%) who reported significant levels of fatigue
and 31 (48%) with significant fatigue on the Fatigue Severity Scale. Demographic
and clinical variables were not significantly related to fatigue (p > 0.05),
apart from gender, with women reporting significantly more fatigue than men (p =
0.006). There was a moderate correlation between the BASDEC and FSS (r(s) = 0.41,
p = 0.002). Of the 41 participants who reported fatigue, 33 (81%) had not
discussed this with their clinician. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue was a common problem
after stroke. There was a lack of awareness in both patients and clinicians and
little advice being given to patients with fatigue.

Langue : ANGLAIS