Other Titles

Early Predictors of Post-Stroke Fatigue: Advancing Patient-Centered Care [Title Slide]

Abstract

Background: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms experienced by stroke survivors (1). It can persist throughout recovery, limiting independence, reducing engagement in rehabilitation, and diminishing their overall quality of life (2). Despite its prevalence and impact on functional recovery, PSF often remains poorly understood (3) and undermanaged in stroke care (1). Identifying predictors of PSF early in the recovery phase provides an opportunity for nurses to translate evidence into practice. Such insights enable proactive and individualised interventions that optimised recovery trajectories and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify demographic and clinical predictors among stroke survivors during the acute phase of stroke recovery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 to June 2024. Participants were assessed within two weeks (acute phase) of stroke onset. PSF was measured using a survey that collected information on fatigue using the Detection List Fatigue (DLF). Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the participants Digital Health Record. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of PSF. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection.

Results: Among 103 participants (mean age 71.6 ± 12.2 years), most of them had first-ever ischaemic strokes and completed the assessment within the first week. Haemorrhagic stroke and cardiovascular disease significantly predicted moderate–severe PSF, with survivors 10.8 and 6.4 times more likely to report significant fatigue.

Conclusions: Early identification of PSF risk factors enables nurses to implement timely, tailored interventions that enhance rehabilitation engagement in and overall recovery. These findings advance clinical practice by informing structured nursing assessments and individualised fatigue-management strategies during the acute phase. Integrating this evidence into routine clinical practice supports patient-centred approaches, including. education for patients and families, to manage fatigue across care transitions. By embedding these insights into everyday nursing practice, this research strengthens continuity of care, promotes equitable, evidence-informed stroke management and reinforces the essential role of nurses in improving recovery, participation, and well-being.

Notes

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References:

1. Chen W, Jiang T, Huang H, Zeng J. Post-stroke fatigue: a review of development, prevalence, predisposing factors, measurements, and treatments. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1298915.

2. Alghamdi I, Ariti C, Williams A, Wood E, Hewitt J. Prevalence of fatigue after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Stroke J. 2021;6(4):319–332.

3. Kuppuswamy A, Billinger S, Coupland KG, English C, Kutlubaev MA, Moseley L, et al. Mechanisms of post-stroke fatigue: a follow-up from the third stroke recovery and rehabilitation roundtable. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2024;38(1):52–61.

Description

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is common and negatively impacts recovery, independence, and quality of life. This study of 103 acute stroke survivors identified haemorrhagic stroke and cardiovascular disease as key predictors of moderate–severe PSF. Early identification of these risk factors enables nurses to provide timely, individualized interventions, supporting recovery, rehabilitation engagement, and patient-centered stroke care.

Author Details

Presenter: Sulochana Koirala Paudel, Master of Philosophy Student in Nursing, University of Newcastle, Australia

Co-authors/Supervisors:

Prof. Ritin Santiago Fernandez. University of Newcastle, Australia;

Kaye Rolls, PhD. University of Wollongong, Australia;

Heidi Green, PhD. University of Wollongong, Australia

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Cross-Sectional

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Advancing Clinical Practice, Ischemic Stroke, Hemorrhagic Stroke, Stroke Patients, Fatigue (Physiology), Patient-Centered Care

Conference Name

37th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Conference Year

2026

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2026-08-13

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Advancing Clinical Practice - Early Predictors of Post-Stroke Fatigue: Advancing Patient-Centered Care

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Background: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms experienced by stroke survivors (1). It can persist throughout recovery, limiting independence, reducing engagement in rehabilitation, and diminishing their overall quality of life (2). Despite its prevalence and impact on functional recovery, PSF often remains poorly understood (3) and undermanaged in stroke care (1). Identifying predictors of PSF early in the recovery phase provides an opportunity for nurses to translate evidence into practice. Such insights enable proactive and individualised interventions that optimised recovery trajectories and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify demographic and clinical predictors among stroke survivors during the acute phase of stroke recovery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 to June 2024. Participants were assessed within two weeks (acute phase) of stroke onset. PSF was measured using a survey that collected information on fatigue using the Detection List Fatigue (DLF). Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the participants Digital Health Record. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of PSF. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection.

Results: Among 103 participants (mean age 71.6 ± 12.2 years), most of them had first-ever ischaemic strokes and completed the assessment within the first week. Haemorrhagic stroke and cardiovascular disease significantly predicted moderate–severe PSF, with survivors 10.8 and 6.4 times more likely to report significant fatigue.

Conclusions: Early identification of PSF risk factors enables nurses to implement timely, tailored interventions that enhance rehabilitation engagement in and overall recovery. These findings advance clinical practice by informing structured nursing assessments and individualised fatigue-management strategies during the acute phase. Integrating this evidence into routine clinical practice supports patient-centred approaches, including. education for patients and families, to manage fatigue across care transitions. By embedding these insights into everyday nursing practice, this research strengthens continuity of care, promotes equitable, evidence-informed stroke management and reinforces the essential role of nurses in improving recovery, participation, and well-being.