Current status and influencing factors of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross‐sectional study in China

This study aimed to explore the level and influencing factors of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.This cross-sectional study was conducted in 243 patients with rheumatoid arthritis from April 2016 to March 2017. The Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire, Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-8, Visual Analogue Scale for pain, physical function subscale of Short Form 36-Item Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a self-designed demographic and disease-related information questionnaire were used to collect the data. Stepwise linear multiple regression was used to clarify the impact of statistically significant variables (P < 0.05) in the independent sample t test, one-way ANOVA and correlation analysis on the level of fatigue.Stepwise linear multiple regression analyses showed that disease activity, self-efficacy, physical function, pain, depression, duration of morning stiffness and anxiety were major factors influencing fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which explained 59.5% of the total variance.Our study demonstrated a moderate level of fatigue in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In clinical practice, nurses should explore individualized intervention programmes based on related predictors of fatigue to help patients relieve fatigue.