Fatigue Scale (fatigue + scale)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sensitivity, Specificity, and Usefulness of the Dutch Fatigue Scale

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 3 2001
Lucas J. Tiesinga PhD
Purpose. To test the sensitivity, specificity, and usefulness of the Dutch Fatigue Scale (DUFS), which is based on NANDAs defining characteristics of fatigue. Methods. A cross-sectional design was used among domiciliary patients (N = 213) with chronic heart failure (n = 138) and with breastfeeding postpartum women (n = 75). Findings. Calculations of the sensitivity and specificity of the DUFS, comparisons of the average DUFS sumscores between both nonfatigued and fatigued subjects, as well as between patients with chronic heart failure and postpartum women, and correlation coefficients performed with sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education) demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties. Conclusions. The DUFS is a reliable and valid measurement tool for the assessment of fatigue. Practice Implications. Accurate recognition of the existence and extent of fatigue must precede interventions. Easy to use, reliable tools for the bedside nurse are invaluable assets to practice. Search Terms: Fatigue, measurement of fatigue, psychometric testing [source]


Longitudinal course of depression, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with high risk melanoma receiving adjuvant interferon

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 8 2004
Peter C. Trask
Purpose: Treatment of malignant melanoma with interferon- , has been associated with a variety of side effects ranging from fatigue to depression, and a concomitant impact on quality of life (QOL), in a variety of case reports and cross-sectional clinical trials. Few, if any, studies have been conducted with the express purpose of assessing the longitudinal course of depression, fatigue, and QOL before and during interferon therapy. Description of study: The current study reports on 16 patients who were assessed at 6 points in time: baseline, post high dose, and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months post high dose treatment with interferon- , with the Brief Symptom Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Biological Response Modifiers. Results: Results revealed consistent changes from baseline through 6 month assessment. Specifically, increased somatic complaints, depression, and fatigue were observed on the BSI, BDI, and RPFS, respectively. Additional reductions in QOL on the FACT-BRM were also identified. Clinical implications: The findings suggest that IFN has a significant effect on QOL, but that it may be the somatic symptoms of fatigue that contribute to changes on measures of mood. Limiting the amount of fatigue and depression would appear to be significant if individuals are to successfully complete IFN therapy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The PedsQLÔ in pediatric cancer

CANCER, Issue 7 2002
Reliability, cancer module, multidimensional fatigue scale, validity of the pediatric quality of life inventoryÔ generic core scales
Abstract BACKGROUND The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) is a modular instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents ages 2,18 years. The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales are multidimensional child self-report and parent proxy-report scales developed as the generic core measure to be integrated with the PedsQL disease specific modules. The PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale was designed to measure fatigue in pediatric patients. The PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module was designed to measure pediatric cancer specific HRQOL. METHODS The PedsQL Generic Core Scales, Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and Cancer Module were administered to 339 families (220 child self-reports; 337 parent proxy-reports). RESULTS Internal consistency reliability for the PedsQL Generic Core Total Scale Score (, = 0.88 child, 0.93 parent report), Multidimensional Fatigue Total Scale Score (, = 0.89 child, 0.92 parent report) and most Cancer Module Scales (average , = 0.72 child, 0.87 parent report) demonstrated reliability acceptable for group comparisons. Validity was demonstrated using the known-groups method. The PedsQL distinguished between healthy children and children with cancer as a group, and among children on-treatment versus off-treatment. The validity of the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale was further demonstrated through hypothesized intercorrelations with dimensions of generic and cancer specific HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the reliability and validity of the PedsQL Generic Core Scales, Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and Cancer Module in pediatric cancer. The PedsQL may be utilized as an outcome measure in clinical trials, research, and clinical practice. Cancer 2002;94:2090,106. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10427 [source]


A Multivariate Validation of the Defining Characteristics of Fatigue

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 1 2001
Mei Fu MSN
PURPOSE. To validate the nursing diagnosis fatigue by providing evidence to identify, confirm, and consolidate the defining characteristics. METHODS. The Revised Piper Fatigue Scale and the Schwartz Measurement of Fatigue scales were used to collect data from four groups of healthy women (N = 182). Data were analyzed by maximum-likelihood factor analysis with varimax rotation, and major and minor defining characteristics were identified and clustered. FINDINGS. The identified defining characteristics tended to group into the dimensions identified in prior fatigue studies. Although the majority of the NANDA defining characteristics were validated, differences were found. CONCLUSIONS. atigue is a multidimensional construct. Replication of the study with a variety of samples from different geographic locations and a variety of patient populations will further cross-validate the defining characteristics of fatigue. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Fatigue is a commonly experienced phenomenon in both health and illness. As the knowledge base about fatigue builds, so will the accuracy of nursing assessments and the effectiveness of nursing interventions. [source]


Muscle Endurance in Elderly Nursing Home Residents Is Related to Fatigue Perception, Mobility, and Circulating Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Interleukin-6, and Heat Shock Protein 70

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 3 2008
(See editorial comments by Drs. Hermes Florez, Bruce R. Troen, pp 55
OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationships between muscle endurance and circulating interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-,), and heat shock protein (Hsp)70 in nursing home residents and to assess how muscle endurance relates to self-perceived fatigue and mobility. DESIGN: Exploratory study. SETTING: Three nursing homes of the Foundation for Psychogeriatrics (Brussels, Belgium). PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-seven residents (53 female and 24 male, mean age 81 ± 8). MEASUREMENTS: Participants were assessed for muscle endurance (fatigue resistance and grip work); perceived fatigue (visual analogue scale for fatigue); fatigue during daily activities (Mobility-Tiredness Scale); effect of fatigue on quality of life (World Health Organization Quality Of Life questionnaire); mobility (Tinetti Test & Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS)); and circulating IL-6, TNF-,, and Hsp70. RESULTS: Residents with better fatigue resistance reported less self-perceived tiredness (P<.05). Similar trends were observed for fatigue during daily activities and for the extent to which fatigue bothered subjects. Higher grip work was associated with less self-perceived fatigue on all fatigue scales (P<.01). Fatigue resistance and grip work were positively related to balance and basic mobility (all P<.01; trend for relationship between fatigue resistance and EMS). Subjects with high IL-6 and Hsp70 showed significantly worse fatigue resistance (P=.007) and muscle work (P=.045) than those with high IL-6 and low Hsp70. In male residents, higher TNF-, was related to worse fatigue resistance and grip work (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Elderly nursing home residents complaining of fatigue need to be taken seriously, because they show worse muscle endurance, which is related to poorer mobility. Inflammatory processes involving TNF-, and the interaction between IL-6 and Hsp70 are related to poorer muscle endurance in these patients. [source]


Psychological features and coping styles in patients with chronic pain

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 2 2009
Jingai Cui ms
Aims:, It is said that psychological factors play a crucial role in the development, continuation or amplification of chronic pain. The purpose of the present study was to examine psychological features and coping styles related to chronic pain. Methods:, Sixty-three patients with persistent pain over 3 months (average age of 59.3 years; 22 men and 41 women) were recruited as subjects from December 2005 to March 2007. As for chronic pain, the duration of pain and the intensity of pain, applied using the Visual Analogue Scale, were evaluated in each patient. In addition, their psychological features were examined with the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and their coping styles were examined using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results:, The duration of pain was not significantly correlated with values of the POMS or CISS. The intensity of pain according to the Visual Analogue Scale was significantly correlated with the tension,anxiety, anger,hostility and fatigue scales of the POMS. Also, the intensity of pain showed negative correlations with the avoidance-oriented coping scale of the CISS. Conclusions:, Understanding psychological features and coping styles are critical when we determine the proper treatment for chronic pain. [source]