Abstract
Background
Fatigue is an important symptom in general practice due to its association with physical, psychological and social problems.
Aim
To determine the prevalence of fatigue as an unsolicited symptom during general practice consultations.
Methods
A random sample of GPs practising in Ireland was invited to provide data on consultations held over one day. Data were recorded on the presence of fatigue as a main or supporting symptom, social and demographic characteristics.
Results
Data were recorded by 89 GPs on 1,428 consultations. The prevalence of fatigue was 25%. It was the main reason for attending the dcctor in 6.5% and a secondary reason in 19%. Sixty-two per cent of patients were female and 48% were eligible for free GP services. The mean age was 47.1 years. The presence of fatigue was associated with: attending a female GP, being female, attending a GP who had been qualified for fewer years and attending the GP frequently.
Conclusion
The prevalence of fatigue reported in this study is over three times higher than that reported in earlier work. Doctor characteristics appear to be as important as patient characteristics in determining fatigue.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
The Collins paperback English Dictionary 2nd Edition. Harper Collins. Glasgow: 1991.
Hannay DR. Symptom prevalence in the community.J R Coll Gen Pract 1978; 28: 492–9.
Ridsdale L. Tired all the time.BMJ 1991; 303: 1490–1.
Morrell DC. Symptom interpretation in general practice.J R Coll Gen Pract 1972; 22: 295–309.
Jerrett WA. Lethargy in general practice. The Practitioner 1981; 4: 731–7.
Ridsdale L, Evans A, Jerrett W et al. Patients with fatigue in general practice: a prospective study.BMJ 1993; 307: 103–6.
Fever AM. Fatigue: time to recognize and deal with an old problem.BMJ 2001; 322: 808–9.
Philip P, Vervialle F, LeBreton P, Taillard J, Horne JA. Fatigue, alcohol and serious road crashes in France: factorial study of national data.BMJ 2001; 322: 829–30.
McDonald E, David AS, Pelosi A, Mann AH. Chronic fatigue in primary care attenders.Psychol Med 1993; 23: 987–98.
Fukuda K, Strauss S, Hickie I et al. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study.Ann Int Med 1994; 121: 953–9.
Department of Public Health. Chronic tatigue syndrome. Eastern Health Board. Dublin. July 1996.
Wessely S, Chalder T, Hirsch S et al. Postinfectious fatigue: prospective cohort study in primary care.Lancet 1995; 345: 1333–8.
Fitzgibbon EJ, Murphy D, O’Shea K, Kelleher C. Chronic fatigue in Irish general practice: a survey of general practitioners’ experience.Br J Gen Pract 1997; 47: 618–22.
Irish Medical Directory. Directory of Irish Healthcare 1999–2000. Medical Information Systems. Dublin, 1999.
Thomas P. The research needs of primary care.BMJ 2000; 7252: 2–3.
Wilson S, Delaney B, Roalfe A et al. Randomised controlled trials in primary care: case study.BMJ 2000; 7252: 24–7.
Asch S, Connor SE, Hamilton EG, Fox SA. Problems in recruiting community based physicians for health services research.J Gen Intern Med 2000; 15: 591–9.
Maher T. Hypertension screening and care in general practice in Ireland. Association of University of Departments of General Practice in Ireland. Annual Scientific Meeting, Galway, 2001.
Kroenke K. Studying symptoms: research and measurement issues.Ann Int Med 2001; 134: 844–53.
Kroenke K, Harris L. Symptoms research: a fertile field.Ann Int Med 2001; 134: 801–2.
Wesseley S. Chronic fatigue: symptom and syndrome.Ann Int Med 2001; 134: 838–43.
Morrisson JD. Fatigue as a presenting problem in family practice.J Fam Pract 1980; 10: 795–801.
Chen MK. The epidemiology of self-perceived fatigue among adults.Prev Med 1986; 15: 74–81.
Bensing JM, Hulsman RL, Schreurs KM. Gender differences in fatigue: biopsychosocial factors relating to fatigue in men and women.Med Care 1999; 37: 1078–83.
Ridsdale L, Evans A, Jerrett W et al. Patients who consult with tiredness: frequency of consultation, perceived causes of tiredness and its association with psychological distress.Br J Gen Pract 1994; 44: 413–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cullen, W., Kearney, Y. & Bury, G. Prevalence of fatigue in general practice. Ir J Med Sci 171, 10–12 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168931
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168931