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Original Article

Characteristics and Factors related to Fatigue in Older Adults at a Senior Welfare Center

Su Yeon Jeong1orcid, Smi Choi-Kwon2orcid
2018;30(5):516-526. Published online: October 31, 2018

1Part-time Instructor, Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy, Daejeon, Korea.

2Professor, College of Nursing · Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

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Abstract

PURPOSE
Fatigue is common in older adults and may decrease the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level and characteristics of fatigue of older adults, and identify the factors associated with fatigue.
METHODS
This study used a secondary data analysis (n=200). Data collection was conducted from July to September 2015. Fatigue Severity Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version, Korean Version of Physical Activity Scale for Elderly, and Verran & Synder-Halpern Sleep Scale were used.
RESULTS
We used the data from 200 older adults in a local senior welfare center. Their average age was 74.5 years. We found that 35.5% of them had fatigue (≥4). The reported factors alleviating fatigue were taking rest, warm bath, and sleeping. Engaging in light sports was also reported to alleviate fatigue. The level of fatigue was higher in subjects with older age (p=.009), lower income (p=.003), higher number of diseases (p < .001), more medications (p < .001), and lower perceived health status (p < .001). In multiple linear regression analysis, the factors predicting fatigue were older age (p < .001), depression (p < .001), pain (p=.001), irregular exercise (p=.013), and lower perceived health status (p < .001). The explanatory power of the model was 47.5%.
CONCLUSION
Our study suggests that depression and pain were risk factors although engaging in light sports was a factor alleviating fatigue in older adults. The fatigue management strategies tailored to alleviate fatigue in older individuals by reducing these manageable risk factors are needed.


Korean J Adult Nurs. 2018 Oct;30(5):516-526. Korean.
Published online Oct 25, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2018.30.5.516
© 2018 Korean Society of Adult Nursing
Original Article

Characteristics and Factors related to Fatigue in Older Adults at a Senior Welfare Center

Su Yeon Jeong,1 and Smi Choi-Kwon2
    • 1Part-time Instructor, Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy, Daejeon, Korea.
    • 2Professor, College of Nursing · Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
  • Corresponding author: Choi-Kwon, Smi. College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea. Tel: +82-2-740-8830, Fax: +82-2-765-4103, Email: smi@snu.ac.kr
Received June 07, 2018; Revised August 23, 2018; Accepted September 07, 2018.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

Fatigue is common in older adults and may decrease the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level and characteristics of fatigue of older adults, and identify the factors associated with fatigue.

Methods

This study used a secondary data analysis (n=200). Data collection was conducted from July to September 2015. Fatigue Severity Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form Korea Version, Korean Version of Physical Activity Scale for Elderly, and Verran & Synder-Halpern Sleep Scale were used.

Results

We used the data from 200 older adults in a local senior welfare center. Their average age was 74.5 years. We found that 35.5% of them had fatigue (≥4). The reported factors alleviating fatigue were taking rest, warm bath, and sleeping. Engaging in light sports was also reported to alleviate fatigue. The level of fatigue was higher in subjects with older age (p=.009), lower income (p=.003), higher number of diseases (p<.001), more medications (p<.001), and lower perceived health status (p<.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, the factors predicting fatigue were older age (p<.001), depression (p<.001), pain (p=.001), irregular exercise (p=.013), and lower perceived health status (p<.001). The explanatory power of the model was 47.5%.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that depression and pain were risk factors although engaging in light sports was a factor alleviating fatigue in older adults. The fatigue management strategies tailored to alleviate fatigue in older individuals by reducing these manageable risk factors are needed.

Keywords
Aged; Fatigue; Depression; Pain; Physical activity

Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics and Health related Characteristics of Subjects (N=200)

Table 2
Level of Fatigue and Fatigue related Characteristics (N=200)

Table 3
Fatigue according to Characteristics of Older Adults (N=200)

Table 4
Correlation of Fatigue with Physical Activity in Older Adults (N=200)

Table 5
Factors Influencing Fatigue in Older Adults (N=200)

Notes

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:The authors declared no conflict of interest.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This article is a condensed form of the first author's master's thesis from Seoul National University.

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Characteristics and Factors related to Fatigue in Older Adults at a Senior Welfare Center
Korean J Adult Nurs. 2018;30(5):516-526.   Published online October 31, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2018.30.5.516
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Characteristics and Factors related to Fatigue in Older Adults at a Senior Welfare Center
Korean J Adult Nurs. 2018;30(5):516-526.   Published online October 31, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2018.30.5.516
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