An Analysis of Research on Fatigue

Park, Mi Sook; Byun, Young Soon

Abstract

This study was done to analyze research trends and to suggest future perspectives for nursing research on fatigue. The author reviewed 31 Korean and foreign research papers which have been published in the literature since 1970. An analysis of the study focused on the type of research subjects, type of study design, measurement instrument, and its correlated parameters. The results of the study are summarized as follows: First, within all of the studies analayzed, 14 studies were publised in Korea and 17 were published abroad. The number of studies done abroad have been increasing rapidly since 1991. Second, an analysis of the research design of the studies showed, eight studies each, Korean and foreign used survey design. Two Korean studies and seven foreign studies used a correlational design. Four comparative studies were done in Korea, but only two experimetal studies were performed abroad. Therefore, it was found that the trend of the study design used is survey design and there are more correlational studies done abroad than in Korea. Third, the type of the study subjects; 11 Korean and three foreign studies dealt with healthy people. In addition, three Korean and 14 foreign studies investigated patients with various illnesses. It was found that patients with various illnesses were studied more frequently in foreign studies than in Korean studies. Fourth, the measurement tool used in the Korean studies; 13 studies used a testible tool to assess patients' subjective symtoms or complaints of fatigue. The most commonly used tool used in 10 studies, was the Fatigue Self-Perception Scale, which was designed by the Labor and Health Institute of Japan. The Visual Analogue Scale was used in two studies, and Piper Fatigue Scale, addtional with physiologic parameters, was used in one study. In the foreign studies, subjective measurement tools were used in 16 studies. A combination of a subjective measurement tool with objective parameters was used in ten studies. For the subjective measurement tool used in the foreign studies, a specific measurement tool developed by the researcher which was used in seven studies. Either Rhoten Fatigue Scale or the Visual Analog Scale were used in three studies. Additionally, in order to identify the relationship between fatigue and psychological factors, The Profile of Mood State was used in three studies. Beck Depression Inventory was used in two studies. The Self Rated Depression Scale, developed by Zung, was used in one study and other measurement tools were used to measure various psychological parameters. Rhoten Fatigue Checklist was also used to observe behavior patterns. Lastly, nine studies identified correlations between fatigue and other parameters. A significant correlation was found between fatigue and psychological factors such as depression, and pain. As a result of the above findings, it can be said that research trends on fatigue are increasing internationally. The selected study designs are survey studies both in Korea and abroad. There are more correlational studies abroad than in Korea. In addition, subjective measurement tools and objective parameters are used variously and combined with each other. And, there is a significant correlation between fatigue and psychological factors such as depression, and pain. More survey and correlational studies need to be done to identify the relationship of fatigue in patients with various condition or diagnoses and to suggest a scientific basis for nursing interventions with fatigue. Also, a tool to assess patient's subjective, objective, and behavioral aspects on fatigue needs to be developed.