Testing the effectiveness of a Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) intervention for individuals with inflammatory arthritis: Study protocol for a randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: A work-focused fatigue management intervention, Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) programme was developed for individuals with inflammatory arthritis (IA) to manage fatigue in order to maintain demands of their work activities and tasks. This paper presents the protocol for a randomized control trial that will test the effectiveness and acceptability of FAME-W in improving work performance. METHODS: This protocol presents a multisite randomized control trial and mixed methods process evaluation. Eligible participants will be aged 18-65 years with a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis and will be in paid employment. The primary outcome of the study will be Work Role Functioning (WRF) questionnaire, and the secondary outcomes will be fatigue, mood, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and pain. Data will be collected immediately pre- and post-intervention and at 3 months of follow-up. The process evaluation will consist of focus groups and individual interviews to explore participants' experiences of FAME-W. Occupational therapists delivering the programme will complete a facilitator log to assess the fidelity and quality of intervention implementations. Facilitators will participate in individual interviews to explore intervention delivery and acceptability. RESULTS: Results will be expected to show that FAME-W will improve work performance by helping participants gain self-management strategies around managing fatigue and other symptoms related to fatigue. CONCLUSION: It is hoped that FAME-W will be an effective and acceptable intervention for individuals with IA in improving work performance by helping them manage their symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05138445, Registered on 30 November 2021.

Testing the feasibility and acceptability of an online 'Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) programme' for individuals with inflammatory arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) is a four-week, occupational therapy led programme focussing on fatigue management strategies. FAME-W was designed to be delivered in person; however, due to COVID-19 pandemic it was modified to be an online group-based self-management intervention. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of the online delivery format of FAME-W. METHODS: This was a mixed methods study. Participants were randomly allocated to intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received a four-week online FAME-W. The control group participants received a FAME-W handbook. Participants were required to complete questionnaires on work presenteeism, fatigue, mood, Health Related Quality of Life and pain at baseline, and 3 months post-intervention. Participants in the intervention group attended a focus group immediately following the completion of the programme and the control group participated in individual interviews. RESULTS: Seven of ten individuals recruited participated in the study. Majority of participants had Rheumatoid Arthritis and were working full-time. The mean age of intervention participants was 53 ± 10.4 and 56.5 ± 3.7 for the controls. All participants in the intervention group had 100% attendance, completed all study measures and activities. Participants had positive comments about the programme format, content, and delivery. Improvements were observed in most measures at follow up. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that an online programme to improve work ability was feasible and acceptable to individuals with inflammatory arthritis. The online delivery format was favoured over attending a centre-based programme. The findings support a definitive intervention trial of online FAME-W.