Successful Psychological Strategies of Experienced Chronic Fatigue Patients: A Qualitative Study.
J Patient Exp
; 8: 23743735211034962, 2021.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34395851
ABSTRACT
Trying to care for patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) can lead to frustration and disappointment for both patients and health care professionals alike. Learning positive ways to assist patients avoids professionals collapsing into therapeutic nihilism. We sought to understand how people with such symptoms can live well despite (or even because of) their condition. Chronic fatigue was chosen as the exemplar symptom. Participants were invited to join the research if they, themselves, considered they were living well with this symptom. One-on-one interviews using an appreciative enquiry approach were performed and thematic analysis undertaken. Twelve participants were interviewed before data saturation occurred. The emotional stance or relationship a participant had with, and towards, their illness was the primary determinant underlying their interpretation of "living well." Five major themes of this meta-theme were identified (1) engaging with elusiveness, (2) befriending uncertainty, (3) reflecting on self, (4) living creatively, and (5) moving in stillness. Encouraging patients who are struggling with MUS to consider how they emotionally engage with their illness via these 5 positive dynamics may lead to better health outcomes for patients and happier, more fulfilled health care professionals.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudio:
Qualitative_research
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Patient Exp
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Nueva Zelanda