Abstract: Objective: To gain a deeper understanding of the true experience of self-regulated fatigue in older stroke patients during self-management. Methods: Using phenomenological research methods and purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted on 16 elderly stroke patients from March to May 2024. Nvivo 12.0 software and Colaizzi seven step analysis method were used to organize and analyze the interview data. Results: Four themes and 12 sub-themes were extracted, including self-regulated fatigue performance process, acute phase self-regulated fatigue sources, recovery phase self-regulated fatigue sources, and sequelae phase self-regulated fatigue sources. Conclusion: The manifestation of self-regulated fatigue in older stroke patients is multidimensional and gradually increases in severity. There are differences in the sources of self-regulated fatigue in the acute, recovery, and sequelae stages of the disease. Medical staff should dynamically pay attention to the status of self-regulated fatigue in older stroke patients at each stage, take targeted measures, maintain the balance of patients' psychological resources, and improve their self-management ability.

Key words: stroke; self-regulated fatigue; self-management; qualitative research