Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.20(1) > 1057928

Kim, Lee, and Chang: Factors Influencing Fatigue in Elderly People with Chronic Pain

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to examine fatigue in elderly people with chronic pain and identify factors influencing fatigue.

Methods

Participants in the study were 296 elders suffering from pain for more than 6 months. The data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaires and were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 15.0 version.

Results

The mean score for fatigue was 30.5, and fatigue showed a significant positive correlation with depression (r=.57, p<.001), perceived stress (r=.12, p=.035) and pain disability (r=.52, p<.001), but a negative correlation with social support (r=-.21, p<.001) and ADL (r=-.22, p<.001). Depression was found to be a significant predictor of fatigue.

Conclusion

The results of this study show that psychological factors like depression have more influence on fatigue in elders than physical activities or daily capability. Therefore, it is important to consider psychological factors which influence fatigue as well as the fatigue itself in order to efficiently control fatigue.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General Characteristics (N=296)

jkapmhn-20-61-i001
Table 2

Degree of Fatigue and Other Variables (N=296)

jkapmhn-20-61-i002

ADL=activities of daily living.

Table 3

Correlations of Fatigue, Depression, Perceived Stress, Social Support, Pain Disability and Activities of Daily Living (N=296)

jkapmhn-20-61-i003

ADL=activities of daily living.

Table 4

Difference of Fatigue by General Characteristics (N=296)

jkapmhn-20-61-i004
Table 5

Predicting Factors on Fatigue in the Elderly with Chronic Pain (N=296)

jkapmhn-20-61-i005

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