Defining and Measuring Fatigue
Corresponding Author
Lauren S. Aaronson RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Dr. Aaronson, University of Kansas School of Nursing, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorCynthia S. Teel RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorVirginia Cassmeyer RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorGeri B. Neuberger RN, EdD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorLeonie Pallikkathayil RN, DNS
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorJanet Pierce RN, DNS
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorAllan N. Press PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorPhoebe D. Williams RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorAnita Wingate RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lauren S. Aaronson RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Dr. Aaronson, University of Kansas School of Nursing, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorCynthia S. Teel RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorVirginia Cassmeyer RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorGeri B. Neuberger RN, EdD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorLeonie Pallikkathayil RN, DNS
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorJanet Pierce RN, DNS
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorAllan N. Press PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorPhoebe D. Williams RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorAnita Wingate RN, PhD
Lauren S. Aaronson, RN, PhD, Delta, Professor and Associate Dean for Research; Cynthia S. Teel, RN, PhD, Delta, Assistant Professor; Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD, Associate Professor; Ceri B. Neuberger, RN, EdD, Delta, Associate Professor; Leonie Pallikkathayil, RN, DNS, Delta, Assistant Professor; and Janet Pierce, RN, DSN, Delta, Assistant Professor; School of Nursing. Allan N. Press, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare. Phoebe D. Williams, RN, PhD, Professor, and Anita Wingate, RN, PhD, Delta, Associate Professor, School of Nursing. All are at the University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
Search for more papers by this authorThis project was supported by NIH grant P20 NR03270, Center for Biobehavioral Studies of Fatigue Management, L. Aaronson, director. The individual studies are: Fatigue and metabolic control in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, V. Cassmeyer, PI; Correlates of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis clients, G. Neuberger, PI; Contractile and biochemical changes in diaphragm fatigue, J. Pierce, PI; Caregiver fatigue and at-risk infants at home, P. Williams, PI; Elder fatigue in caregiving and non-caregiving roles, C. Teel, PI; Experience of fatigue in healthy individuals, L. Pallikkathayil, PI; and Daily variations in chronic fatigue syndrome immune signs and symptoms, L. Aaronson, PI. We wish to acknowledge the contributions of Cheryl Cahill (associate director during our first year) and Jenean Sears concerning early discussions about the center and its development, as well as the center's advisory committee (Kathleen O'Connell, Joan Shaver, Sue K. Donaldson, Edna Hamera, Frederick E. Samson Jr., David Ekerdt, and A. L. Chapman) for their critical reviews and support.
Abstract
In response to a long history of problems with defining and measuring fatigue, the University of Kansas School of Nursing established a Center for Biobehavioral Studies of Fatigue Management to facilitate the study of fatigue in diverse populations. The purpose of this article is to review past efforts to define and measure fatigue and the conceptual problems relevant to currently used measures of fatigue. Several distinct characteristics and corresponding measures of fatigue are identified and a definition and framework for the study of fatigue are discussed. Future research on fatigue must attend to the conceptual distinctions among various measures and the measures of fatigue most appropriate to the goals of a study.
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