Insights from healthcare professionals on enhancing fatigue management in chronic conditions: a qualitative study

Purpose: Activity pacing is multidimensional and promising for fatigue management and quality of life in chronic conditions. There is a need to develop activity pacing interventions involving healthcare professionals’ views on fatigue management and activity pacing. This study explored healthcare professionals’ perspectives on activity pacing and its role in fatigue management for individuals with chronic conditions. Materials and methods: Three focus groups and two semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten healthcare professionals. They were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic inductive analysis. Results: Participants described activity pacing as complex. They highlighted barriers experienced by adults with chronic conditions, including fear of overexertion, reluctance disclosing their condition, and lack of understanding their fatigue. Participants underscored the importance of a tailored, holistic activity pacing approach. They viewed activity pacing as essential for improving the quality of life in chronic conditions and discussed physical activity engagement as a strategy to enhance fatigue management. Conclusion: Findings from this study underscore the complexities of activity pacing in chronic conditions and offer insights to inform the development of more effective interventions. Healthcare professionals’ perspectives highlight the need to address both practical and psychological aspects of fatigue management through individualized and holistic approaches.