100 research outputs found
Statistical Analysis Plan:Understanding whether BAME children have different symptoms when accessing specialist CFS/ME services
Investigating outcomes in children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME):Statistical Analysis Plan
The Feasibility of Using Smartphone Sensors to Track Insomnia, Depression, and Anxiety in Adults and Young Adults:Narrative Review
Experiences of pain in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis:a single-centre qualitative study
BACKGROUND: Moderate to severe pain affects up to two-thirds of children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and is associated with worse fatigue and physical functioning. This research aims to gain a greater insight into pain experienced by these children. METHODS: Thematic analysis of qualitative data from semistructured interviews with 13 children with CFS/ME (mean age=15.3 years, 67% female) was completed. RESULTS: Thematic analysis enabled construction of three themes: childrenâs wide-ranging experiences of pain, negative impact of pain and lack of effective treatment for pain and nine subthemes. The first theme demonstrated highly varied pain experiences, ranging from âlike [being]⊠on fireâ, like âbeing stabbedâ to âlikeâŠleadâ. Children experienced pain in multiple sites and with wide-ranging frequency and severity. The second theme highlighted the profound negative impact of pain on multiple aspects of childrenâs lives. Physical activity was severely impaired; some children âcouldnât leave bedâ or âcouldnâtâŠbrush [their] own hairâ. Abdominal pain meant some would âgoâŠdays without eatingâ. Pain substantially impacted on mental health, leaving children feeling âagitatedâ, experiencing âreally bad panic attacksâ or making them â[want to] breakdownâ. Children felt they âcanât do the things that everyone else can doâ, had âmissed outâ and are âbehind everyoneâ. Some avoided socialising as they âdonât want to stop everyone elseâ. The final theme demonstrates the absence of adequate treatment for pain, with participants reporting ânothing has ever really got rid of itâ and only âslightly [takes] the edge offâ and other experiencing side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Pain in paediatric CFS/ME is highly variable, common and often results in severe physical limitation and poor mental health. Effective treatments for pain represent an unmet need
Investigating chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in younger children (5-11-years-old):Statistical Analysis Plan
Specialist treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME:a cohort study among adult patients in England
Abstract Background NHS specialist chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) services in England treat approximately 8000 adult patients each year. Variation in therapy programmes and treatment outcomes across services has not been described. Methods We described treatments provided by 11 CFS/ME specialist services and we measured changes in patient-reported fatigue (Chalder, Checklist Individual Strength), function (SF-36 physical subscale, Work & Social Adjustment Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale), pain (visual analogue rating), sleep (Epworth, Jenkins), and overall health (Clinical Global Impression) 1Â year after the start of treatment, plus questions about impact of CFS/ME on employment, education/training and domestic tasks/unpaid work. A subset of these outcome measures was collected from former patients 2â5Â years after assessment at 7 of the 11 specialist services. Results Baseline data at clinical assessment were available for 952 patients, of whom 440 (46.2%) provided 1-year follow-up data. Treatment data were available for 435/440 (98.9%) of these patients, of whom 175 (40.2%) had been discharged at time of follow-up. Therapy programmes varied substantially in mode of delivery (individual or group) and number of sessions. Overall change in health 1Â year after first attending specialist services was âvery muchâ or âmuch betterâ for 27.5% (115/418) of patients, âa little betterâ for 36.6% (153/418), âno changeâ for 15.8% (66/418), âa little worseâ for 12.2% (51/418), and âworseâ or âvery much worseâ for 7.9% (33/418). Among former patients who provided 2- to 5-year follow-up (30.4% (385/1265)), these proportions were 30.4% (117/385), 27.5% (106/385), 11.4% (44/385), 13.5% (52/385), and 17.1% (66/385), respectively. 85.4% (327/383) of former patients responded âYesâ to âDo you think that you are still suffering from CFS/ME?â 8.9% (34/383) were âUncertainâ, and 5.7% (22/383) responded âNoâ. Conclusions This multi-centre NHS study has shown that, although one third of patients reported substantial overall improvement in their health, CFS/ME is a long term condition that persists for the majority of adult patients even after receiving specialist treatment
Adult patientsâ experiences of NHS specialist services for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME):a qualitative study in England
Abstract Background Few studies have explored patientsâ experiences of treatment for CFS/ME. This study aims to fill this gap by capturing the perspective of patients who have been treated by NHS specialist CFS/ME services in England. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted during the period JuneâSeptember 2014 with 16 adults who were completing treatment at one of three outpatient NHS specialist CFS/ME services. Interviews were analysed thematically using constant comparison techniques, with particular attention paid to contrasting views. Results Three themes were identified: âJourney to specialist servicesâ; âThings that help or hinder treatmentâ; and âSupport systemsâ. Within these themes nine sub-themes were identified. A wide range of factors was evident in forming participantsâ experiences, including personal characteristics such as perseverance and optimism, and service factors such as flexibility and positive, supportive relationships with clinicians. Participants described how specialist services played a unique role, which was related to the contested nature of the condition. Many participants had experienced a lack of validation and medical and social support before attending a specialist service. Patientsâ experiences of life before referral, and the concerns that they expressed about being discharged, highlighted the hardship and obstacles which people living with CFS/ME continue to experience in our society. Conclusions The experiences of CFS/ME patients in our study showed that NHS specialist CFS/ME services played a vital role in patientsâ journeys towards an improved quality of life. This improvement came about through a process which included validation of patientsâ experiences, acceptance of change, practical advice and support, and therapeutic outcomes
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