Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Best-practice guidelines suggest that health services should repeatedly assess fatigue in persons with MS. Several fatigue scales are available but concern has...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tennant Alan, Pallant Julie F, Young Carolyn A, Mills Roger J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-02-01
Series:Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Online Access:http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/22
_version_ 1818346865191550976
author Tennant Alan
Pallant Julie F
Young Carolyn A
Mills Roger J
author_facet Tennant Alan
Pallant Julie F
Young Carolyn A
Mills Roger J
author_sort Tennant Alan
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Best-practice guidelines suggest that health services should repeatedly assess fatigue in persons with MS. Several fatigue scales are available but concern has been expressed about their validity. The objective of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a new scale for MS fatigue, the Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Qualitative analysis of 40 MS patient interviews had previously contributed to a coherent definition of fatigue, and a potential 52 item set representing the salient themes. A draft questionnaire was mailed out to 1223 people with MS, and the resulting data subjected to both factor and Rasch analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data from 635 (51.9% response) respondents were split randomly into an 'evaluation' and 'validation' sample. Exploratory factor analysis identified four potential subscales: 'physical', 'cognitive', 'relief by diurnal sleep or rest' and 'abnormal nocturnal sleep and sleepiness'. Rasch analysis led to further item reduction and the generation of a Summary scale comprising items from the Physical and Cognitive subscales. The scales were shown to fit Rasch model expectations, across both the evaluation and validation samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A simple 10-item Summary scale, together with scales measuring the physical and cognitive components of fatigue, were validated for MS fatigue.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-13T17:25:03Z
format Article
id doaj.art-dd1c7aac7d524b26b8dfcb26f126e5a4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1477-7525
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T17:25:03Z
publishDate 2010-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
spelling doaj.art-dd1c7aac7d524b26b8dfcb26f126e5a42022-12-21T23:37:12ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252010-02-01812210.1186/1477-7525-8-22Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)Tennant AlanPallant Julie FYoung Carolyn AMills Roger J<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Best-practice guidelines suggest that health services should repeatedly assess fatigue in persons with MS. Several fatigue scales are available but concern has been expressed about their validity. The objective of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a new scale for MS fatigue, the Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Qualitative analysis of 40 MS patient interviews had previously contributed to a coherent definition of fatigue, and a potential 52 item set representing the salient themes. A draft questionnaire was mailed out to 1223 people with MS, and the resulting data subjected to both factor and Rasch analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data from 635 (51.9% response) respondents were split randomly into an 'evaluation' and 'validation' sample. Exploratory factor analysis identified four potential subscales: 'physical', 'cognitive', 'relief by diurnal sleep or rest' and 'abnormal nocturnal sleep and sleepiness'. Rasch analysis led to further item reduction and the generation of a Summary scale comprising items from the Physical and Cognitive subscales. The scales were shown to fit Rasch model expectations, across both the evaluation and validation samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A simple 10-item Summary scale, together with scales measuring the physical and cognitive components of fatigue, were validated for MS fatigue.</p>http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/22
spellingShingle Tennant Alan
Pallant Julie F
Young Carolyn A
Mills Roger J
Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
title Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)
title_full Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)
title_fullStr Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)
title_full_unstemmed Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)
title_short Development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: The Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MS)
title_sort development of a patient reported outcome scale for fatigue in multiple sclerosis the neurological fatigue index nfi ms
url http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/22
work_keys_str_mv AT tennantalan developmentofapatientreportedoutcomescaleforfatigueinmultiplesclerosistheneurologicalfatigueindexnfims
AT pallantjulief developmentofapatientreportedoutcomescaleforfatigueinmultiplesclerosistheneurologicalfatigueindexnfims
AT youngcarolyna developmentofapatientreportedoutcomescaleforfatigueinmultiplesclerosistheneurologicalfatigueindexnfims
AT millsrogerj developmentofapatientreportedoutcomescaleforfatigueinmultiplesclerosistheneurologicalfatigueindexnfims