A Comparison Study on Fatigue and Pain in Rheumatoid Patients - centered on AS, FM, and SLE patients

Yi, Yeo Jin; Lim, Nan Young; Lee, Eun Young

Abstract

This study was designed to offer descriptive data for nursing intervention for relief of fatigue and pain, and to distinguish by the characteristic difference and the symptoms such as fatigue and pain on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Fibromyalgia(FM), and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) patients. The sample consisted of 92 patients(AS 29; FM 30; SLE 33) who visited H-University Rheumatism Hospital in Seoul. The data were collected by a structured questionnaire from May 1, 1999 to April 30, 2000. The results were as follows: Patients of 95% experienced fatigue in the last week and a fatigue score of three disease groups were above average. The fatigue score of FM patients was highest in the other disease, but which was not a statistically significant difference(F=1.417, p=.248). The mean score of AS and FM patients in pain was higher than the SLE patients, and there was the statistical significance among the three groups on pain (F=8.239, p=.001). There wasn't a statistical difference among three groups on coping wtih pain(F=1.451, p=.240). There wasn't any correlation between fatigue and pain in each disease (AS: r=.008, p=.966; FM: r=.328, p=.077; SLE: r=.237,p=.185). Therefore, morning stiffness and pain management during sleeping is needed through good body alignment in the AS patients. Adequate rest for fatigue and multiple coping strategies for pain maybe basic nursing intervention in FM and SLE. According to their fatigue rhythm, a regular exercise program is needed for rheumatic disease because they complained of fatigue above average and their fatigue was repeated better and worse only during the one week.