Patient Educ Couns. 2021 Sep 14:S0738-3991(21)00625-X. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.09.016. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To systematically synthesize the effectiveness of fatigue self-management education (SME) on fatigue and quality of life (QoL) in persons with disease-related fatigue, and to describe the intervention characteristics.
METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature on SMEs in people with disease-related fatigue. We included randomized controlled trials (RCT), which aimed to improve self-management skills for fatigue in daily life. We synthesized the effectiveness and mapped the intervention characteristics.
RESULTS: We included 26 RCTs studying samples from eight disease groups. At follow-up, 46% studies reported statistically significant improvements on fatigue and 46% on QoL. For persons with cancer 6/8 and multiple sclerosis 8/10 RCTs showed positive evidence in favor of SME. The range of effect sizes was wide (d: 0.0 ->0.8). Delivery modalities (inpatient, outpatient, home), interactions (individual, group, remote), and duration [range (h): 1-17.5] varied.
CONCLUSIONS: The overall evidence on the effectiveness of SMEs on fatigue and QoL is limited and inconsistent. For persons with cancer and multiple sclerosis, the evidence provides a positive effect. The RCTs with medium to large effect on QoL indicate the potential benefit of SMEs.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATION: Duration and peer interaction should be considered when tailoring SMEs to populations and contexts.
PMID:34561143 | DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2021.09.016
