The “Managing Fatigue” programme for people with multiple sclerosis – acceptance and feasibility with Swedish occupational therapists

Figures & data

Table 1. Overview of the sessions in the Managing Fatigue programme.

Sessions	Content	Homework
Session 1: The Importance of Rest	Introduction, fatigue, importance of rest and fatigue management strategies.Activity: Assessing rest habits and creating a rest plan	Plan rest into daily schedule
Session 2: Communication and Body Mechanics	Review homework, communication and expressing needs to others, structure of body, and how to use body properly	Communication with others
Session 3: Activity Stations	Review homework, organisation of needed environments/workspace, and the use of technology to save energy	Re-organise workspace to save energy
Session 4: Priorities and Standards	Review homework, activity analysis - analysing components of activities, budgeting energy, making decisions about priorities and standards	Analysing and modifying an activity to experience less fatigue
Session 5: Balancing Your Schedule	Review homework, components of a balanced lifestyle, planning a weekly schedule	Planning a day to manage fatigue
Session 6: Course Review and Future Plans	Review homework, course review, short-term and long-term goal setting, conclusion	No homework

Table 2. Delivery of programme components.

	Session Component					Total Planned	Total Implemented	Sessions Delivered (%)
	Introduction	Homework Review	Interactive Lecture	Activity	Homework Assignment
Session 1, N = 8	7	NA	8	8	7	32	30	93.8%
Session 2, N = 8	5	6	7	4	5	40	27	67.5%
Session 3*, N = 8	4	7	7	7	7	40	32	80.0%*
Session 4, N = 8	5	7	8	6	6	40	32	80.0%
Session 5, N = 8	7	7	6	5	6	40	31	77.5%
Session 6, N = 8	7	8	8	7	NA	32	30	93.8%
Percent of Component Delivered	74.4%	89.7%	93.6%	78.7%	79.5%	224	182	81.3%*

* Occupational therapist #6 cancelled session 3 due to inclement weather and provided clients with session information by mail. Reported data reflects the cancelled session.

Table 3. MS Participant attendance.

	OT1 (n = 9)	OT2 (n = 9)	OT3 (n = 7)	OT4 (n = 8)	OT5 (n = 8)	OT6* (n = 5)	OT7 (n = 7)	OT8 (n = 8)	Median attendance (range)	Percent planned attendance
Session 1	9	9	7	8	8	5	7	8	8 (5–9)	100.0%
Session 2	7	9	7	8	8	4	7	7	7 (4–9)	93.4%
Session 3*	5	9	6	7	7	– *	6	7	7 (5–9)	83.9%
Session 4	7	9	6	6	7	5	5	6	6 (5–9)	83.6%
Session 5	6	5	7	5	7	2	5	3	5 (2–7)	65.6%
Session 6	8	9	6	4	8	4	4	5	6 (4–9)	78.7%
Overall attendance	73.7%	87.7%	92.9%	79.2%	93.8%	80.0%	81.0%	75.0%	(20–50)	81.0%*

* Occupational therapist #6 (OT6) cancelled session 3 due to inclement weather and provided clients with session information by mail. Percentage of planned attendance is therefore based on five sessions for OT6 and for 7 sessions for Session 3.

Table 4. Therapists’ ratings of the Managing Fatigue programme content (n = 8).

	Session 1 (mean)	Session 2 (mean)	Session 3 (mean)	Session 4 (mean)	Session 5 (mean)	Session 6 (mean)	Mean
Relevant*	4.63	4.63	3.63	4.25	4.75	4.75	4.44
Important*	4.88	4.75	3.75	4.63	4.75	4.75	4.59
Understandable*	3.75	4.63	3.88	3.71	3.88	4.25	4.02
Culturally appropriate*	4.5	4.12	4.25	4.75	4.75	4.88	4.54
Overall Mean per Session	4.44	4.53	3.88	4.34	4.53	4.66

* Five-point rating scale, higher values are more positive.

Figure 1. An overview of the three main themes and subthemes.