Background: Post-stroke fatigue is common but often overlooked in clinical encounters. Limited longitudinal studies have explored how stroke survivors (SS) and care partners (CP) discuss fatigue with healthcare providers (HCP).
Aims: To explore the experiences of SS and their CP in discussing fatigue with HCP in the southeastern United States.
Methods: This longitudinal qualitative study included interviews with SS following a first-time ischemic stroke and their CP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during the post-acute phase (within 1 month) and the late subacute phases (3-6 months). Content analysis was used to identify themes.
Results: Nine pairs of SS and CP completed 55 interviews over time. In the post-acute phase, two themes were identified: 'receiving insufficient information', whereby SS and CP reported that HCP briefly mentioned fatigue without providing management strategies; and 'lacking proactive discussion', whereby SS viewed fatigue as inevitable, leading to its under-prioritization in discussions with HCP. In the late subacute phase, the theme 'applying professional judgment' was identified, with therapists promoting open discussions and monitoring fatigue status during rehabilitation. In both phases, 'treating potential sources of fatigue' was identified, as SS and CP reported that primary care providers addressed factors that exacerbated fatigue (e.g., pain, comorbidities).
Conclusion: Although HCP addressed factors contributing to fatigue, SS and CP perceived the information provided in the post-acute phase as insufficient. Survivors considered fatigue a low priority during clinical encounters. Enhanced discussions between SS, CP, and HCP, including comprehensive assessments and management strategies, are needed.