Illness perceptions of fatigue and the association with sense of coherence and stress in patients one year after myocardial infarction

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore the associations between illness perceptions of fatigue, sense of coherence and stress in patients one year after myocardial infarction.

Background: Post-myocardial infarction fatigue is a stressful symptom that is difficult to cope with. Patients' illness perceptions of fatigue guide professionals in predicting how individuals will respond emotionally and cognitively to symptoms. Individuals' sense of coherence can be seen as a coping resource in managing stressors.

Design: A cross-sectional study design was used.

Method: One year post-myocardial infarction, a total of 74 patients still experiencing fatigue completed four questionnaires: the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale Inventory-20, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence scale (sense of coherence-13) and a single-item measure of stress symptoms. Descriptive statistics, correlations and stepwise regression analysis were carried out.

Results: Strong negative associations were found between illness perceptions of fatigue, sense of coherence and stress. Sense of coherence has an impact on illness perceptions of fatigue. Of the dimensions of sense of coherence, comprehensibility seemed to play the greatest role in explaining illness perceptions of fatigue one year after myocardial infarction.

Conclusion: To strengthen patients' coping resources, health-care professionals should create opportunities for patients to gain individual-level knowledge that allows them to distinguish between common fatigue symptoms and warning signs for myocardial infarction.

Relevance to clinical practice: There is a need to improve strategies for coping with fatigue. It is also essential to identify patients with fatigue after myocardial infarction, as they need explanations for their symptoms and extra support.

Keywords: fatigue; illness perception; salutogenesis; sense of coherence; stress.