Exploring adult critical illness survivors’ experiences of fatigue; a qualitative study

Aims: To explore adult experiences of fatigue after discharge from an intensive care unit and to identify potential management strategies. Design: An exploratory qualitative study Methods: One to one audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with 17 adult survivors of critical illness in the United Kingdom, lasting up to one hour, between September 2019 and January 2020. Anonymised and verbatim-transcribed interview data underwent a standard process of inductive thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke. Findings: Three themes were identified: fatigue is different for everyone; complex interrelating interactions; and personalised fatigue strategies. Fatigue was described as a distressing symptom, unique to the individual that causes an array of complex, often long-term interrelating impacts on the survivor and their wider family, made worse by a lack of understanding, empathy, and support resources. Support from others, alongside interventions such as exercise, good nutrition, information, and alternative therapies are used by survivors with variable degrees of success. Conclusions: This qualitative study reports peoples’ experiences of fatigue after critical illness. Findings highlight the significant impact it has on people’s lives and those of their family and friends.