An International Study of Experiences of Fatigue in Palliative Care

Project Lead: Dr Marilynne Kirshbaum

Name of collaborators: Trish Corcoran, St Luke's Hospice, Sheffield; Kath Steele, Sheffield Hallam

Date: 2008-2010

University, Sheffield; Kärin Olson, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Kanaungnit Pongthavornkamol, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand and Guendalina Graffigna, Catholic University, Milan, Italy.

This study represented the England component of an international collaboration across four countries; England, Canada, Italy and Thailand, that explored patients’ experiences of fatigue in palliative care settings.

An ethnoscience methodology enabled the identification of phrases used to describe fatigue in terms of social, emotional, cognitive and physical effects. The findings provided evidence that symptom experience, such as fatigue is socially constructed, which has implications for the development of effective interventions. 

For further information, please contact Dr Marilynne N Kirshbaum