Pilot Study of an Online Fatigue Intervention Program for People With Scleroderma
Pilot Study of an Online Fatigue Intervention Program for People With Scleroderma
This research is being done to evaluate if an online fatigue intervention program will decrease fatigue, pain and increase confidence managing fatigue and being able to do daily tasks. This study involves competing a series of questionnaires before and after the intervention , and attending and participating in the online videoconference fatigue program for 1 1/2 hour meetings each week over a 6-week period of time.
If eligible and give consent, participants will be asked to complete 2 online questionnaires. The first questionnaire asks basic information such as your age, gender, educational level, and amount of time diagnosed with systemic sclerosis. The second questionnaire asks about your disease symptoms.
You will also be asked to complete questionnaires about your fatigue, pain, mood, confidence in managing your disease and performing daily tasks, and knowledge and use of energy saving techniques.
Once you compete the questionnaires, you will be asked to compete a survey about times and days you would be available to attend the online videoconference fatigue program meeting over a 6 week period of time.
Once the time and dates for the fatigue program are scheduled, you will be expected to attend and take part (using visual and audio) in each 1 ½ hour meeting for 6 weeks online.
The fatigue program includes information on causes of fatigue, ways to protect joint and save energy, ways to manage stress, pain, good eating habits, and exercise. Outside of meetings, you will also be expected to do any "homework" assignments in between the group meetings such as setting goals and doing activities to reach your goals.
At the end of the 6 weeks, you will be asked to complete the same questionnaires you did at the beginning of the study regarding, fatigue, pain, and ability to perform daily tasks. You will also be asked to complete an evaluation of the course.
3 months later, you will be asked to take part in a 45 minute telephone interview to talk about your fatigue and how you are using the ideas from the program.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: