Testing the feasibility and acceptability of an online 'Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) programme' for individuals with inflammatory arthritis.

Introduction: Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) is a four-week, occupational therapy led programme focussing on fatigue management strategies. FAME-W was designed to be delivered in person; however, due to COVID-19 pandemic it was modified to be an online group-based self-management intervention. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of the online delivery format of FAME-W.

Methods: This was a mixed methods study. Participants were randomly allocated to intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received a four-week online FAME-W. The control group participants received a FAME-W handbook. Participants were required to complete questionnaires on work presenteeism, fatigue, mood, Health Related Quality of Life and pain at baseline, and 3 months post-intervention. Participants in the intervention group attended a focus group immediately following the completion of the programme and the control group participated in individual interviews.

Results: Seven of ten individuals recruited participated in the study. Majority of participants had Rheumatoid Arthritis and were working full-time. The mean age of intervention participants was 53 ± 10.4 and 56.5 ± 3.7 for the controls. All participants in the intervention group had 100% attendance, completed all study measures and activities. Participants had positive comments about the programme format, content, and delivery. Improvements were observed in most measures at follow up.

Conclusion: Results suggest that an online programme to improve work ability was feasible and acceptable to individuals with inflammatory arthritis. The online delivery format was favoured over attending a centre-based programme. The findings support a definitive intervention trial of online FAME-W.