New licentiate thesis about clinical assessment of persistent fatigue and pain
Hi Gabriella Bernhoff, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care. On February 3 you will defend your licentiate thesis "On the clinical assessment of persistent fatigue and pain", what is the main focus of the thesis?
My thesis is about the management and diagnostics for patients with persistent fatigue and pain. Specifically the utility of some common screening methods - the Beighton score and pain drawing - and patients' perceived health status.
Which are the most important results?
The Beighton score and the pain drawing appear to be tools to retain in the clinical assessment of persistent fatigue and pain. Screening with the pain drawing also may be beneficial in supporting a patient-centred managment and merits further development. The condition myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS was made clearer in terms of its identity.
How can this new knowledge contribute to the improvement of people’s health?
The results can inform special considerations for self-care and treatment.
What's in the future for you? Will you continue to conduct research?
Continued research is in sight and will be about physiotherapy for patients with the same conditions as in the thesis.