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Heart Failure

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Critique of “Correlates of Fatigue in Patients With Heart Failure”

Galen College

Transitions/NUR 240

January 4, 2010

The topic of this article is to determine correlates of fatigue in patients with heart

failure. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of fatigue and distinguish its

demographic, clinical and psychological correlates in patients suffering from heart

failure. These findings could possibly lead to ways to better treat patients living with HF.

Healthcare workers could benefit greatly from the data gathered to better understand the

needs of the aforementioned patients and focus their interventions to accommodate their

needs. No review of literature is included in this research paper.

The study was conducted by six scholars with advanced degrees. Two of the

researchers hold PhDs and two other hold DSNc degrees, which are professional level

research degrees in Nursing. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing is considered a

more academic degree and prepares those who have attained the it for both research

and teaching positions.

In this study, a cross-sectional correlation design method was used. This type of

research study uses a small group of individuals to represent a whole population. It is

often used in making healthcare decisions and imperative that only current information is

considered (Last, 2010). In this particular study, 150 patients from a single heart failure

center, 73% percent were men and 27% were women. All study subjects were above the

age of 18 and had a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% that had been

documented longer than 6 months. Researchers used 3 tools to help gather data; Profile of

Mood States-fatigue Subscale, the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire,

and the Beck Depression Inventory.

The questionnaires used with these volunteer patients took approximately 15 minutes

to complete and focused on various aspects of their perceived health and well being.

Measuring data included questions about the patient’s feelings of “tiredness”, quality of

life issues and a depression inventory. Patients were asked to rate or describe how they

felt or would rate themselves in these areas. The results of these questionnaires were then

analyzed.

The correlation between patients with heart failure and fatigue is highly prevalent

according to this study. In both men and woman more than half of the study subjects

reported high levels of fatigue as a symptom due to heart failure. As indicated in the

article, fatigue affects many aspects of a person’s life and may require multiple inter-

vention strategies. Higher levels of fatigue do correlate with poorer physical health. De-

pression was noted in greater than 28% of the sample; 19% having mild depressive

symptoms and 9% having moderate to severe symptoms. The study also found that

approximately one half of the study’s participants experienced fatigue when compared

with a healthy adult population utilizing the same measure. Findings were also consistent

with earlier findings that showed a correlation between fatigue and a decrease in physical

activity.

Realizing and understanding what patients with heart failure are going through can

greatly help nurses and other healthcare workers help them while they are in our

care. Our assessments can be adapted accordingly with these patients to monitor for signs

of increasing fatigue and/or depression. These symptoms may not always be as obvious

as other symptoms of heart failure such as dyspnea, increased heart-rate or wheezing.

These subtle signs and symptoms, fatigue and depression, may indicate a change in the

status of the patient’s condition. Fatigue plays a major role in the recovery of a patient. It

may affect their quality of life, their adherence to a treatment regimen and social or

support system. Early detection by the healthcare worker can avoid these problems and

aid the patient in a faster recovery or at least a further decline in health.

REFERENCES

Americam Journal of Nursing (2009, March 3). NursesCriminal History Linked To

Professional Misconduct. ScienceDaily Retrieved August 20,

Evangelista L, Moser D, Westlake C, Pike N, Ter-GalstayanA, Dracup K. Correlates of

fatigue in patients with heart failure. Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing [serial

online]. 2008 winter2008;23{1}:12-17. Available from:CINAHL with full text,

Ipswich, MA. Accessed December 28, 2009.

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