ArticleBMJ open2020
Patients' experiences with fluctuations in persistent physical symptoms: a qualitative study.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fear of disease progression and its associated factors in patients with acute pancreatitis: a cross-sectional study.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Article
- Multidimensional Factors Are Related to Caregiver Burden: Findings From a National Experience Sampling Survey.Scandinavian journal of caring sciences · 2026Article
- Article
- Patterns of symptom deterioration can support multimorbidity management in COPD: Perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals.PloS one · 2025Article
- Barriers and potential solutions for collaboration between primary and secondary care in patients with persistent somatic symptoms and functional disorders: A nominal group technique study.The European journal of general practice · 2024Article
- Knowing the entire story - a focus group study on patient experiences with chronic Lyme-associated symptoms (chronic Lyme disease).BMC primary care · 2022Article
- Multiple mechanisms shape the relationship between pathway and duration of focal seizures.Brain communications · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo explore patients' experiences with fluctuations in persistent physical symptoms (PPS) and to understand which factors-from their viewpoint-play a role in these fluctuations.
designQualitative study using semistructured interviews and thematic content analysis.
settingThis qualitative study is part of a multicentre prospective cohort study on the course of PPS. Patients were recruited in general practices and specialised treatment facilities for PPS throughout the Netherlands.
participantsInterviews were conducted with a sample of fifteen patients with PPS to explore their experiences with fluctuations in symptom severity.
resultsWe identified three themes in the analysis: (1) patterns in symptom fluctuations (2) perceived causes of symptom exacerbations and (3) Patients' strategies in gaining control over symptom exacerbations. Daily and weekly fluctuations in symptoms were an important element in patients' experiences. In particular anticipating on the worsening of symptoms impacted their daily routines and posed various challenges. Symptom exacerbations were attributed to overstepping physical limits and/or the impact of negative emotions. Resigning to physical limits, adjusting ones daily planning, weighing personal needs and learning to say 'no' were described as different strategies in gaining control over symptom exacerbations.
conclusionsFluctuations in the severity of symptoms-and in particular daily and weekly symptom exacerbations-are an important element of the symptom experience in patients with PPS and poses various challenges. Patients attributed symptom exacerbation to overstepping physical limits and/or negative emotions. Patients described different strategies in gaining control over symptom exacerbations.
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