Exploring the experience of post-stroke fatigue in community dwelling stroke survivors: a prospective qualitative study.

Purpose: To explore the experience of post-stroke fatigue in community-dwelling stroke survivors with and without post-stroke mood disturbance within one year of stroke.

Methods: This was a prospective qualitative cohort study including semistructured interviews undertaken at baseline (stroke onset), 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in 23 stroke survivors; eight single interviews were held with "supplementary" participants. Qualitative data analysis involved an inductive thematic approach using a process of constant comparison.