Fatigue Self-Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Uncovering Needs, Opportunities and Design Implications

Abstract

Fatigue poses a significant challenge for many individuals living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Yet, despite its impact on quality of life, fatigue remains an often overlooked and underdiscussed symptom. This indicates a clear need for more targeted and effective support for fatigue self-management. The use of computer technology for this purpose is little explored. However, it holds promise to enhance the lives of those with RA. This thesis addresses this gap by exploring the lived experiences of fatigue among individuals with RA and providing insights into the potential role of technology in supporting fatigue self-management. I used a mixture of qualitative methods: online ethnography, interviews and co-design workshops. This allowed to triangulate results. In the online ethnography study, I drew on the rich context of online discussion forums to gain deep insights into their perspectives and coping stages necessary for living with fatigue. Following this, I interviewed people with RA to further identify the factors and strategies in coping with fatigue. This also highlighted areas where technology could play a role in enhancing fatigue self-management and potential barriers to its adoption. I synthesised these findings into a set of low-fidelity design concepts exploring a range of identified fatigue-related needs and design considerations. I used co-design workshops, to refine the existing insights and identify further ones. Some design considerations were reaffirmed, others challenged and I identified more perspectives on some design elements related to tracking or measuring fatigue. Overall, the contribution is to provide a deep understanding of the fatigue-related needs of those with RA. I translate this into design implications and demonstrate the potential for how technology might support fatigue self-management.