scholarly journals Using the Fatigue Severity Scale to inform healthcare decision-making in multiple sclerosis: mapping to three quality-adjusted life-year measures (EQ-5D-3L, SF-6D, MSIS-8D)

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Goodwin ◽  
A. Hawton ◽  
C. Green
2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1103-1111
Author(s):  
Marzieh Mortezanejad ◽  
Fatemeh Ehsani ◽  
Nooshin Masoudian ◽  
Maryam Zoghi ◽  
Shapour Jaberzadeh

Objective: To compare the effects of anodal trans-cranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) over primary motor and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices on Fatigue Severity Scale and its lasting effect on fatigue reduction and improvement in quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Design: A randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled parallel clinical trial study. Setting: Neurological physiotherapy clinics. Subjects: Thirty-nine participants were randomly assigned to three groups: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex a-tDCS, primary motor a-tDCS (experimental groups) and sham a-tDCS. Finally, 36 participants completed the whole study ( n = 12 in each group). Interventions: Participants in the experimental groups received six-session a-tDCS (1.5 mA, 20 minutes) during two weeks (three sessions per week). The sham group received six sessions of 20-minute sham stimulation. Main measures: The Fatigue Severity Scale and quality of life were assessed before, immediately and four weeks after the intervention. Results: Findings indicated a significant reduction in the Fatigue Severity Scale and a significant increase in the quality of life in both experimental groups, immediately after the intervention ( P < 0.001), while Fatigue Severity Scale and quality of life changes were not significant in the sham a-tDCS group ( P > 0.05). In addition, improvement of the variables remained four weeks after the intervention in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex a-tDCS (mean differences (95% confidence interval): 0.03 (−0.63 to 0.68) as compared to primary motor (−0.62 (−0.11 to −1.14) and sham a-tDCS groups (−0.47 (−1.37 to 0.43)). Conclusion: Both primary motor and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex a-tDCS as compared to sham intervention can immediately improve fatigue and quality of life. However, the effects last up to four weeks only by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex a-tDCS.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 500-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sauter ◽  
K. Zebenholzer ◽  
J. Hisakawa ◽  
J. Zeitlhofer ◽  
K. Vass

Objective Fatigue management and energy conservation are effective strategies to minimize fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS). Sustained results have not yet been reported. Methods A fatigue management course was provided for 32 MS patients. They were tested prior to, directly after participation in the course and in a 7—9 month follow-up with the Fatigue Severity Scale, the MS-specific Fatigue Scale, the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a self-rating scale for depression. The Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) and the MS functional composite (MSFC) were evaluated before and after participation in the course. Results The total score and the Cognitive and Physical subscores of the MFIS showed significant improvements on both points of time. Scores in the Fatigue Severity Scale, MS-specific Fatigue Scale and Psychosocial Fatigue Impact Scale did not improve significantly. MS functional composite and EDSS remained unchanged after six weeks of course participation. Subjective sleep quality improved directly after participation in the course and after 7—9 months. The depression score decreased significantly to a normal level at the end of training and in the 7—9 month follow-up. Conclusion Fatigue management enables MS patients to cope with their fatigue and energy more effectively. Follow-up evaluations showed stable results after 7—9 months. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 500—505. http://msj.sagepub.com


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. e00743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eija Rosti-Otajärvi ◽  
Päivi Hämäläinen ◽  
Anna Wiksten ◽  
Tanja Hakkarainen ◽  
Juhani Ruutiainen

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1134-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholetta Weinges-Evers ◽  
Alexander U Brandt ◽  
Markus Bock ◽  
Caspar F Pfueller ◽  
Jan Dörr ◽  
...  

Background: Fatigue is the most common symptom in multiple sclerosis patients, but is difficult to measure; quantification thus relies on self-assessed questionnaires. Objective: To evaluate a battery of neuropsychological tests regarding their capacity to objectify self-reported fatigue. Methods: We assessed the correlation between age, gender, education, Kurtzke’s Expanded Disability Status Scale, depression, fatigue and neuropsychological testing using a cross-sectional approach in 110 multiple sclerosis patients. Fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale. Cognition was measured using a series of neuropsychological tests including three subtests of the Test of Attentional Performance, the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests and the Faces Symbol Test. Results: According to the Fatigue Severity Scale 51.4% of the cohort were fatigued (scores ≥4). Age, education and depression showed a significant correlation with the Fatigue Severity Scale. Only 5.5% of the cohort exhibited cognitive impairment in the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests scores. After correction for age, education, Expanded Disability Status Scale and depression, Fatigue Severity Scale scores were an independent predictor of performance in the alertness subtest of the Test of Attentional Performance (standardized coefficient beta = 0.298, p = 0.014). Conclusion: The alertness subtest of the Test of Attentional Performance may offer an objective method of evaluating self-reported fatigue, and may therefore — in addition to the Fatigue Severity Scale — be a suitable tool for the assessment of multiple sclerosis patients complaining of fatigue.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadriye Armutlu ◽  
Nilufer Cetisli Korkmaz ◽  
Ilke Keser ◽  
Vildan Sumbuloglu ◽  
Derya Irem Akbiyik ◽  
...  

Physiotherapy ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Szymon Pasiut ◽  
Katarzyna Juda ◽  
Elżbieta Mirek ◽  
Jadwiga Szymura

AbstractFatigue is one of the three major symptoms affecting about 70-90% of multiple sclerosis patients (MS, ICD-10 G35), and a predominant symptom in nearly 50% of the patients. Fatigue is defined as a subjective feeling of lack of energy to start and continue an activity, which is not related to depression, or muscle weakening. There are similarities and differences between the fatigue experienced by healthy individuals, and the fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients. In both instances, fatigue becomes more intense as a result of stress, or physical and mental effort. Fatigue usually subsides after a rest, or a good night’s sleep. In MS patients, fatigue can be caused by even light physical, or mental exertion, and it takes longer than normal to go away. Rest, or sleep do not reduce its intensity.The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of a two-week rehabilitation programme on the perceived level of fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients.The study included 32 patients with clinically confirmed MS who underwent a comprehensive 2-week rehabilitation programme. The study was conducted at the “Ostoja” Centre for Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Wola Batorska from 15 July to 13 October 2013. It was based on a self-designed questionnaire which contained the basic patient data (age, sex), information on duration of the disease, type of MS the patient had been diagnosed with, as well as the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale, and the Fatigue Severity Scale. The respondents were assessed twice: on the first and last day of their stay in the Centre. The statistical analysis was carried out using the STATISTICA 10.0 software.The analysis revealed a statistically highly significant dependence between the two-week rehabilitation programme and the perceived level of fatigue. This means that the perceived level of fatigue in MS patients was significantly reduced as a result of the rehabilitation programme used.After the two-week rehabilitation programme, the perceived level of fatigue in MS patients significantly decreased. The two-week rehabilitation programme significantly reduced the number of patients suffering from chronic fatigue symptoms as assessed on the Fatigue Severity Scale.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Mills ◽  
CA Young ◽  
RS Nicholas ◽  
JF Pallant ◽  
A Tennant

Background The 9-item, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-9) has been widely used as an outcome measure in multiple sclerosis (MS). Modern psychometric theory, in the form of the Rasch measurement model, has set new quality standards for outcome measures by appraising a broad range of measurement properties in addition to the reliability and validity emphasized by classical test theory. Objective To appraise the FSS-9 by application of the Rasch model. Method The FSS-9 was posted to patients with clinically definite MS in two centers in the United Kingdom. Analysis was based on 416 records (55% response). Results The 9-item scale failed to meet Rasch model expectations. Two items had poor discrimination across the scale, and two further items showed bias for factors such as age. Removal of these four items provided a valid 5-item Rasch scale that satisfied strict tests of unidimensionality. Conclusion Summating the nine items of the FSS-9 is invalid. Five items (FSS-5), which seem to be measuring the social impact of fatigue, provide a strictly unidimensional Rasch scale. Studies using the FSS-9 may need to be re-evaluated using the FSS-5, preferably using the Rasch transformed scores.


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