Chronic Fatigue in the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic: a Mixed-methods Quantitative and Qualitative Study
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorFlevoziekenhuis
About this trial
With this study, the investigators aim to answer the following research questions:
1. In what percentage of cases does the diagnostic process conducted during a fatigue consultation at the internal medicine outpatient clinic contribute to a somatic diagnosis? 2. What are the experiences of patients presenting with fatigue at the internal medicine outpatient clinic when a consultation, including diagnostic testing, does not lead to a diagnosis?
To address question (1), the investigators will conduct a retrospective data analysis using information from HiX, an electronic health record (EHR) system.
To answer question (2), the investigators will conduct a prospective qualitative study through interviews.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Patients under 18 years of age;
Patients lost to follow-up.
Disqualifiers
Patients at the internal medicine outpatient clinic with a referral for fatigue e.c.i.
Patients who visited the clinic after the 1st of April 2022.
Patients at the internal medicine outpatient clinic with a referral for fatigue e.c.i. whose consultation did not bring about a somatic diagnosis
Patients under 18 years of age;
Trial population
Patients from the Almere region in Flevoland who visit Flevo Hospital Almere for a fatigue consultation. They speak Dutch and are over the age of 18. For the retrospective part of this study, the investigators will exclude patients who visited the clinic during the Covid period (before the 1st of April 2022).
Trial design
Design model
Cohort
Time perspective
Other
Treatments tested in this trial
Not listed
Trial groups
100 Participants
are grouped into 2 trial groupsGroup A: 1) Adult patients visiting the internal medicine outpatient clinic for unexplained fatigue.
Group B: 2) Adult patients visiting the internal medicine outpatient clinic for unexplained fatigue.
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Results of the blood work
The investigators will determine whether or not pathology is found on the blood work that was done in the context of the fatigue consult. The investigators will determine this on the basis of the conclusion of the internal medicine specialist: Pathology: yes/no.
Time frame
The investigators will determine this retrospectively, two weeks time from the time that the patients were seen.2
Results of electrocardiogram (ECG)
The investigators will determine whether or not pathology is found on the ECG that was done in the context of the fatigue consult. The investigators will determine this on the basis of the conclusion of the cardiologist: Pathology: yes/no.
Time frame
The investigators will determine this retrospectively, two weeks time from the time that the patients were seen.3
Results of chest X-ray
The investigators will determine whether or not pathology is found on the chest X-ray that was done in the context of the fatigue consult. The investigators will determine this on the basis of the conclusion of the radiologist: Pathology: yes/no.
Time frame
The investigators will determine this retrospectively, two weeks time from the time that the patients were seen.4
Experiences of fatigue patients visiting an internal medicine outpatient clinic for whom consultation including diagnostics did not bring about a somatic diagnosis brought about through interviews based on Grounded Theory
These are adult, dutch speaking, native patients, aged 18 to 65 years. They visited the outpatient internal medicine clinic of the Flevoziekenhuis in Almere between the 1st of November 2024 until current.
Time frame
The investigators will explore their experiences on two moments: 1-2 months after a consultation and 6 months after a consultation and a year after consultation.Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov