1. What article did we discuss? We reviewed and discussed a review/perspective article describing the clinical presentation of severe ME/CFS and providing patient-centred recommendations on diagnosis, assessment and treatment approaches. The authors reinforced the importance of compassion, humility and respect in all clinical interactions with people with ME. The article was published in 2021 and was written by a multidisciplinary team of authors, including an OT, four of which had lived experience of ME as patients/carers.

2. What ‘Research Fundamentals’ tip was covered in this session? We covered the uses and limitations of research evidence within review articles, and demonstrated how to use hyperlinked reference lists from review articles to find further information on your topic.

3. What were the key points from the article critique? Five key questions were considered. The article was found to be from a trustworthy source and it was recent enough to be relevant to current practice. The authors were reliable sources and the suggestions they made were relevant to Westernised healthcare settings such as Australia. Their key recommendations aligned with other information and advice currently available in the literature, and overall, it was judged to be a relevant article to apply to clinical practice.

4. What were some of the key take home messages from the discussion? Overall, the need for an individualised approach when caring for people with severe ME/CFS was emphasised. Each person will present with unique impairments, which extend beyond feelings of fatigue, to include hypersensitivities, pain, gastro issues, orthostatic intolerances and sleep disturbances. A number of practical management strategies are presented in the article. It is important that accommodations for the person’s needs are made when providing care, and that OTs practice within a multidisciplinary team for best results. Clinicians should also be mindful that people with ME/CFS have often experienced poor experiences with health professionals in the past.

5. How are OTs going to use what they learnt in this session? OTs experienced with working with people with CFS felt their current approach was validated, while others planned to take more care when planning the timing and content of their sessions, to ensure they are accommodating their client’s unique needs.