Abstract Background The Finnish Nursing Research Foundation (Hotus) promotes evidence-based nursing practice in Finland by collecting, evaluating, and summarising research evidence into Hotus Care Recommendations®. These national, evidence-based guidelines support health and social care professionals in applying research evidence in practice. This care recommendation aims to provide evidence-based information and standardise nursing practices for identifying fatigue in people with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods The literature search was conducted in collaboration with information specialists from the Universities of Oulu and Helsinki in 2020 and updated in 2024. Searches were performed in major international and Finnish databases. Systematic reviews and original studies on fatigue in people with IBD were included if they met the quality criteria based on the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists. Two reviewers independently selected and assessed the studies, resolving any disagreements through discussion or, when necessary, consultation with a third reviewer. A total of 121 articles were identified in the recommendation, with 80 specifically addressing IBD and fatigue. Results IBD nurses should routinely discuss fatigue with people with IBD, as it is a prevalent and burdensome symptom in this population. Nurses should identify and consider factors associated with fatigue, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, gastrointestinal symptoms, pain, and reduced quality of life, and assess these using appropriate measurement tools. Additional factors to consider include poor sleep quality, sleep disturbances, low physical activity, body mass index, female sex, and younger age. Although no direct association between stress and fatigue was found, the recommendation group emphasizes that the IBD nurses should support patients in recognizing stress and offer strategies for managing it. Such strategies may include physical exercise, relaxation, healthy lifestyle habits, planning and organizing daily routines, and recognizing and expressing emotions. Conclusion This national care recommendation promotes evidence-based nursing for people with IBD. It highlights the importance of recognising fatigue and its contributing factors and of providing targeted guidance to support patients’ wellbeing. Such evidence-based interventions can strengthen patients’ sense of control and improve the effectiveness of self-care. Conflict of interest: Toivonen, Tanja Tiitta Inkeri: No conflict of interest Huovinen, Marika Susanna: No conflict of interest Partio-Uitti, Merja Anneli: No conflict of interest Pesonen, Tiina: No conflict of interest Rajala, Mira: No conflict of interest Ylimäki, Saija: No conflict of interest
Toivonen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.