Effects of activity pacing in patients with chronic conditions associated with fatigue complaints: A meta-analysis (2018) Hettinga et al.

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation

Preprint

Date: November 18, 2018

URL:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09638288.2018.1504994

Effects of activity pacing in patients with chronic conditions associated with fatigue complaints: A meta-analysis
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Ulric S. Abonie, Gavin R. H. Sandercock, Marelle Heesterbeek, Florentina J. Hettinga(*)
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.
* Corresponding author.

Received 19 Dec 2017

Accepted 23 Jul 2018

Published online: 18 Nov 2018

Abstract

A meta-analysis was conducted to (1) determine the effect of activity pacing interventions on fatigue, physical functioning and physical activity among patients with chronic conditions associated with fatigue complaints, and to (2) examine potential moderator effects of trial
characteristics (components of intervention and amount of patient-provider contact). Six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Relevant content of the studies was extracted and rated on methodological quality. Random-effects modeling was used to pool data across studies. Medium (standardized mean difference =0.50) and marginal (standardized mean difference =0.34) effects were found for fatigue at post-treatment and follow-up respectively.

Inconsequential effects were found for physical functioning and activity (standardized mean
difference =0.08-0.30) at both assessment points. Subgroup analyses revealed components of intervention and amount of patient-provider contact were not the source of variance. Minimal patient-provider contact had an effect on fatigue comparable in magnitude to more
intensive contact. This meta-analysis of activity pacing in patients with fatigue complaints suggests that activity pacing might have sustained beneficial effects on fatigue management, in particular on fatigue reduction. The divergence in effects for all outcomes suggests that alternative ways such as tailoring advice to individual's behavior toward physical activity may be more successful.

Keywords: Activity pacing, fatigue, physical functioning, physical activity, chronic conditions

 

"Patients with chronic conditions associated with fatigue complaints". That's most chronic conditions. Fatigue is one of the 2 most common symptoms across medicine, even across the whole population.

Might as well do a study of random people walking on the street. The heterogeneity of this population makes any conclusion meaningless.

Is there no one making sure researchers are actually doing useful work instead of throwing darts at a wall and trying to divine meaning out of the patterns they make? How about we just bring back entrails reading divination and just skip the pretense.

 

In case anyone is interested - full text:
http://sci-hub.tw/10.1080/09638288.2018.1504994