Brief Report  |   October 2015
Managing Poststroke Fatigue Using Telehealth: A Case Report
Nicole Boehm; Hannah Muehlberg; Jan E. Stube
Author Affiliations
  • Nicole Boehm, MOT, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Asante Health System, Medford, OR
  • Hannah Muehlberg, MOT, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Physical Rehabilitation at Penrose–St. Francis Health Services, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Jan E. Stube, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND; jan.stube@med.und.edu
Article Information
Health and Wellness / Education of OTs and OTAs / Neurologic Conditions / Stroke / Departments / Brief Report
Brief Report   |   October 2015
Managing Poststroke Fatigue Using Telehealth: A Case Report
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, October 2015, Vol. 69, 6906350020p1-6906350020p7. doi:10.5014/ajot.2015.016170
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, October 2015, Vol. 69, 6906350020p1-6906350020p7. doi:10.5014/ajot.2015.016170
Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of delivering Managing Fatigue: A Six-Week Course for Energy Conservation via telehealth for a 70-yr-old man with poststroke fatigue (PSF).

METHOD. For this pilot case study, a questionnaire developed by the authors and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Fatigue Short Form 7a were used for screening. The study was implemented via teleconference over an 8-wk period. The Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) were used to gather pretest and posttest data.

RESULTS. After the participant completed the course, decreased fatigue impact was noted on the FIS, and modestly improved occupational performance and satisfaction were evidenced by the COPM.

CONCLUSION. For this single participant experiencing PSF, performance and satisfaction on the COPM guardedly improved and fatigue impact decreased after participation in the energy conservation course offered by teleconference, a form of telehealth delivery. Further research is recommended with larger sample sizes.