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Interpretation of Fatigue as an Independent Generic Patient Reported Outcome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Article Title: Interpretation of Fatigue as an Independent Generic Patient Reported Outcome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Author: László Hodinka*, Barbara Hodinka, Vivien Ifju and Edit Vereckei

Published Date: September 16, 2024

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2024.58.009186

Abstract:

The hypothesis of our research is that the perception of rheumatoid arthritis patients about their disease may be influenced by their personality traits. In our previous studies, we constructed individual profiles and clusters based on rheumatoid arthritis patients’ responses to self-assessment questionnaires. In this study we looked for personality assessment tools that could be used to verify the hypothesis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (95 women and 10 men) were studied. A composite index and hierarchical cluster were constructed based on the responses of 105 with rheumatoid arthritis to disease-specific and generic questionnaires. The personality tests used were the Temperament and Character Questionnaire, the Big Five Five-Factor Personality Model and the Patient Health Questionnaire in a subgroup of forty participants. The Fatigue subscale of the FACIT Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy questionnaire correlated well with clinical scales. The majority of respondents rate their condition unanimously as severe or mild in all tools. However, about one third of patients gave conflicting assessments of their physical and mental/emotional condition. When comparing the Temperament/Character and Five Factor models the former was found more reliable in finding associations. Patient Health Questionnaire showed minimal risk of depression. Fatigue sub-dimensions constructed for the current study accordingly reflect the clinical self-assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and confirm our findings on the applicability of personality tests. The FACIT Fatigue subscale may be useful as an independent generic self-assessment tool for analysing other chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

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