About the Packer Managing Fatigue Program
The Packer Managing Fatigue Program is an evidence-based occupational therapy intervention for people living with fatigue secondary to chronic conditions. Below are answers to questions you might have about the program.
What is the Packer Managing Fatigue Program?
The Packer Managing Fatigue Program is an evidence-based self-management intervention aimed at reducing the impact of severe fatigue on the lives of people living with chronic conditions. The PMFP was originally developed to meet the needs of people living with post-polio who experienced severe fatigue. This original version was designed to be delivered by an occupational therapist, in person, to a group of participants. Since then, the program has been adapted for delivery online, by teleconference, and individually for people with a variety of conditions that cause fatigue. The current editions of the PMFP are now available through Think Self-Management.
Why Fatigue?
Lots of people experience tiredness in their daily lives. However, people with chronic conditions experience a different type of fatigue. This fatigue can make it difficult for people to do the activities they want to or need to do. Unfortunately, there are no medications with long term proven effectiveness for managing fatigue symptoms.
Who is the Packer Managing Fatigue Program For?
The Packer Managing Fatigue Program is for anybody who experiences significant fatigue as a result of chronic conditions. Research has shown the program is effective for a wide variety of conditions including:
Post-polio syndrome
Multiple Sclerosis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Parkinson’s Disease
Mitochondrial and Neuromuscular Diseases
How Does the Packer Managing Fatigue Program Work?
The Packer Managing Fatigue Program is designed to help people who experience fatigue take control of their condition through a variety of self-management strategies. The goal of the program is to provide each person with skills and strategies so that they can take control of their fatigue and reduce the impact it has on their life. Using elements of occupational therapy, the program helps identify ways to save energy, identify when you need to rest, and make active decisions that help to develop a balanced lifestyle.
What is the Evidence for the Packer Managing Fatigue Program
Decades of research evidence have demonstrated that the Packer Managing Fatigue Program is effective at reducing the impact of fatigue on individuals’ everyday lives. Randomized control trials, the gold standard for studying interventions and treatments, have been conducted on the use of the program with various conditions and through different delivery methods. To stay up to date on the newest research evidence for the Packer Managing Fatigue Program, check out the News and Events area for new publications.
What Languages Can the Program be Delivered in?
The Packer Managing Fatigue Program has been translated and studied in many languages, including French, Dutch, and Swedish. Currently, we are only able to offer the full version in English. However, we hope to be able to provide translations over the next 12-months.
Can the Program be Delivered Virtually?
Yes! The Packer Managing Fatigue Program can be delivered in a completely virtual format using videoconference or teleconference software.
Do I Need to be an OT to Deliver the Packer Managing Fatigue Program?
Currently, yes. The Packer Managing Fatigue Program has only been studied with delivery by occupational therapists. As such, we do not know if the same benefits of the program can be achieved when it is delivered by non-OTs. This is an area of research that we hope to examine in the future.