Status and correlation between fatigue and health locus of control in COPD patients / 现代临床护理

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the status and correlation between fatigue and health locus of control in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) . Method The multidimensional fatigue symptom inventory-short form and health locus of control questionnaire were used to investigate the fatigue and health locus of control among 150 COPD patients. Results The score on fatigue was 78.82 ± 1.50, in the middle-high level. The two factors scored the higher were physical fatigue and activity. The total score on health locus of control was 61.76 ± 5.02, at a middle-low level. The dimensions of health locus of control, ranked in a descending way in scores, included external control by destiny and authorities and internal control. The scores on external control by destiny and authorities were positively related that of total score on fatigue (P<0.05 for both) and the score of internal control was negatively correlated (P<0.05). Conclusion The fatigue of COPD patients was at high level and the health locus of control was at middle level. In the clinical practice, nurses should pay attention to the enhancement of patients′health locus of control to help them take up health behaviors for the purpose of lowering their fatigue.