Defining and measuring recovery from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome: the physician perspective.
Andrew R Devendorf, Carly T Jackson, Madison Sunnquist and 1 others
PMID 28982247WHAT IT FOUND
Physicians treating ME and CFS separated recovery from improvement.
They saw recovery as complete symptom remission and return to previous functioning without coping or medication. Improvement means better daily life with ongoing symptoms or treatment.
Key findings
01Most physicians separated recovery from improvement, with recovery described as complete symptom remission and return to previous functioning.
02All physicians said measuring recovery should be multi-faceted rather than based on a single measure.
03Exercise tests were seen as objective by some, while others said they lacked sensitivity, did not represent everyday functioning, were confounded by motivation, and could flare symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 10 expert physicians were interviewed, so these views may not represent all physicians. The sample was purposive and selected for expertise, not randomly. The study reports physician perspectives, not patient outcomes or tested interventions. One interview was completed by email, which may differ from phone interviews. Some participants disagreed strongly, including one who believed recovery was common and one who did not believe CFS existed. The authors used a deductive approach focused on recovery, so other issues may not have emerged. No patients or therapists were interviewed, so this does not show how patients or therapists define recovery.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a conflict of interest declaration. The publication types list NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as evidence that any recovery measure or exercise test improves outcomes. They are views from 10 expert physicians, not tested interventions.