title: Rheumatologists' knowledge, attitude and current management of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
abstract: To describe rheumatologists' knowledge, attitude and current management of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a postal questionnaire was sent to all rheumatologists (N = 204) and trainees (N = 49), members of the Dutch Society of Rheumatology. The overall response rate was 44% (N = 110). In general, rheumatologists' knowledge about RA-related fatigue was in accordance with the literature but they perceive a lack of their own knowledge about aetiology and evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat fatigue. The majority of the rheumatologists believe that fatigue is a multi-disciplinary diagnosis and is preferably managed by the nurse specialist (34%). Assuming that the patient will raise the issue, most of the rheumatologists pay attention to fatigue during the first consultation and less often during follow-up consultations. There is a need for knowledge about causes and treatments for RA-related fatigue to ensure that patient outcomes are improved.
authors.affiliation: Department Rheumatology/495, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.repping@cis.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Repping-Wuts
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Riel
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Achterberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D012219:Rheumatology