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Low patient satisfaction reported for fatigue-related communication, self-efficacy

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Only a small number of patients with rheumatic diseases said fatigue-related communication with a rheumatologist was not important; however, less than half of patients studied were satisfied with actual communication, and more than three-quarters of patients reported that the fatigue-related communication was initiated by the patient, according to survey results presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology.

Christina Bode, PhD , and colleagues studied 127 patients (88% women; mean age: 64 years) with a rheumatic disease. An online survey designed using fatigue-related versions of the perceived efficacy in patient-physician interactions; the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue; the Health Assessment Questionnaire; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and questions related to importance, satisfaction and role experience in communication related to fatigue was administered to the patients. Correlational and hierarchical regression analysis were then performed to analyze the data.

Christina Bode

Fatigue was considered unimportant to only 10% of patients with rheumatic diseases who responded to the questions, and 45% said they were satisfied with the communication that was made with a rheumatologist. Findings also showed 77% of respondents had to initiate fatigue-related communication with their physician.

The mean perceived self-efficacy score related to the communication that had occurred (16.15) was lower than patient-physician scores in the general population in previous studies, according to the researchers. Symptoms of depression correlated to perceived self-efficacy were revealed in multivariate analysis. – by Shirley Pulawski

Reference:

Bode C, et al. Paper #AB1218-HPR. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology; June 10-13, 2015; Rome.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.