Comparison of assessment scores for fatigue between multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-K) and modified chalder fatigue scale (mKCFQ)

Background Because of the absence of biological parameters for fatigue, appropriate instruments for assessing the degree of fatigue are important in the diagnosis and management of people complaining of fatigue-like symptoms. This study statistically analyzed the fatigue scores from two typical questionnaire-based instruments: the Korean version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-K) and the modified Chalder Fatigue Scale (mKCFQ). Methods Seventy participants (males n = 40, females n = 30, median age 48 years old, range of 25–67) were grouped into three groups (‘mild’ = 20, ‘moderate’ = 42, and ‘severe’ = 8) according to self-reported fatigue levels using a 7-point Likert scale. The similarities and differences between two instrument-derived scores were analyzed using correlations (r) and multidimensional scaling (MDS). Results The total scores of the two assessments were significantly correlated (r = 75%, p < 0.001), as were the subscores (‘Total Physical fatigue’: r = 76%, p < 0.001, ‘Total Mental fatigue’: r = 56%, p < 0.001). Relative overestimation of the MFI-K (45.8 ± 11.3) compared to the mKCFQ (36.1 ± 16.2) was observed, which was especially prominent in the ‘mild’ group. The scores of the three groups were more easily distinguished by the mKCFQ than by the MFI-K. In terms of the five dimension scores, we found a higher correlation of the two assessments for ‘general fatigue’ (r = 79%, p < 0.001) and ‘physical fatigue’ (r = 66%, p < 0.001) than for the reductions in ‘motivation’ (r = 41%, p < 0.01) and ‘activity’ (r = 26%, p > 0.05). Conclusions Our results may indicate the usefulness of the two instruments, especially for the physical symptoms of fatigue (‘general’ and ‘physical’ fatigue). Furthermore, the MFI-K may be useful for conditions of moderate-to-severe fatigue, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, but the mKCFQ may be useful for all spectra of fatigue, including in subhealthy people.

Application of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory to Ethiopian Cancer Patients

Objectives: Fatigue is a frequent debilitating symptom associated with cancer. However, scientific data on cancer-related fatigue is scarce in developing nations. This work examines psychometric properties of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) and analyzes the level of fatigue among Ethiopian patients with cancer in comparison with data from Germany.Methods: A sample of 256 patients with cancer drawn from a hospital in Ethiopia was examined with the MFI-20 and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). A comparative sample of 780 German patients with cancer served as the control.Results: The MFI-20 scales and total score showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.60–0.93) with a considerable convergent validity between MFI-20 and the EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue scale (r = 0.67–0.75). The Ethiopian patients with cancer reported higher levels of fatigue than the German patients. Analyses of variance showed that Ethiopian patients with cancer who were illiterate, having advanced cancer, and those who did not receive either surgery or chemotherapy reported especially high levels of fatigue.Conclusion: The MFI-20 is a fairly reliable and valid instrument to be used with Amharic speaking patients with cancer. The high level of fatigue in these patients implies that appropriate cancer care is needed in developing countries.

The effect of Pilates exercise on sleep quality and fatigue among female student dormitory residents

Background: Sleep quality and fatigue have been documented as a challenge for college students, with reports indicating impacts on daytime functioning and academic achievement. The present study evaluates the effect of Pilates exercise on sleep and fatigue among female student residents in the dormitory.Methods: This quasi-experimental study involving 67 participants consisted of one experimental group (assigned Pilates exercise) and one control group. Participants in the experimental group received three one-hour sessions of Pilates exercise weekly for eight-week. Sleep quality and fatigue levels were measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and standard Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), respectively. These variables were assessed at baseline, weeks four and eight of the study.Results: After four and eight weeks, findings showed an improvement in the sleep quality score (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). After four weeks of intervention, the mean score of the subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction in the Pilates group was significantly less than the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.002, respectively). Eight weeks of intervention had an additional effect on sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency (p < 0.04 and p < 0.034, respectively). Also, Pilates exercise significantly reduced the total score of fatigue and its dimensions in weeks four and eight, compared to the control group (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Eight weeks of the Pilate's exercises had a significant improvement in most components of sleep quality; however, the effect of Pilates exercise on fatigue was evident from week four of the intervention.Trial registration: The study was registered on 6/2/2015 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with IRCT201412282324N15.

Heightened effort discounting is a common feature of both apathy and fatigue

Apathy and fatigue have distinct aetiologies, yet can manifest in phenotypically similar ways. In particular, each can give rise to diminished goal-directed behaviour, which is often cited as a key characteristic of both traits. An important issue therefore is whether currently available approaches are capable of distinguishing between them. Here, we examined the relationship between commonly administered inventories of apathy and fatigue, and a measure of goal-directed activity that assesses the motivation to engage in effortful behaviour. 103 healthy adults completed self-report inventories on apathy (the Dimensional Apathy Scale), and fatigue (the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and/or Modified Fatigue Impact Scale). In addition, all participants performed an effort discounting task, in which they made choices about their willingness to engage in physically effortful activity. Importantly, self-report ratings of apathy and fatigue were strongly correlated, suggesting that these inventories were insensitive to the fundamental differences between the two traits. Furthermore, greater effort discounting was strongly associated with higher ratings across all inventories, suggesting that a common feature of both traits is a lower motivation to engage in effortful behaviour. These results have significant implications for the assessment of both apathy and fatigue, particularly in clinical groups in which they commonly co-exist.

Prevalence of fatigue in adults with congenital heart disease

Aims: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the prevalence of the multidimensional phenomenon of fatigue in adults with congenital heart disease. Background: Adults with congenital heart disease are a growing population, and patient-reported outcomes can provide valuable information about the patient’s experience of living with CHD. Fatigue is a multidimensional phenomenon that can be described as an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion with a reduced capacity of mental and physical work. Fatigue can be observed clinically in adults with congenital heart disease, but the actual prevalence is unknown. Methods: Fatigue was assessed by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory which enables the respondent to report the presence of fatigue according to five dimensions: “general fatigue,” “physical fatigue,” “mental fatigue,” “reduced motivation,” and “reduced activity.” The questionnaire was sent to 463 patients in Lund and Umeå. Four groups with complex CHD and two groups with moderately complex CHD were included. The reliability (internal consistency) of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory was tested for all dimensions and groups of diagnosis. Results: The response rate was 56.6% (n= 262). In patients with complex CHD, 40.0–59.4% reported severe to very severe general fatigue, and patients with a single ventricle reported the highest prevalence (59.4%). Among patients with complex CHD, 29.2–40.0% reported severe to very severe mental fatigue. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory had a high reliability measured with Cronbach’s alpha. Conclusions: The study findings show a relatively high prevalence of fatigue in adults with congenital heart disease, and general fatigue was the most prevalent. Further studies are needed regarding fatigue and its causes and consequences in adults with congenital heart disease. Relevance to clinical practice: The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory proved to be an instrument with high reliability and low internal loss, which suggests that the instrument may be suitable to use as a patient-reported outcome in the care of adults with congenital heart disease, preferably at repeated occasions.

Effects of Fatigue and Grit on Club Sports Coaches

The objective of this research is to identify the level of general fatigue (FG), physical fatigue (FF) and concentration/motivation (C/M) in sports coaches. Two components of grit, consistency of interest (CI) and perseverance in effort (PE), are also assessed. The possible effects of sex, age, marital status, employment contract, work dedication and grit on FG, FF and C/M in sports coaches are examined. This cross-sectional study analyses 335 sports club coaches (21.2% women, 78.8% male) with a mean age of 29.88 (SD = 9.97) years, at a significance level of p < 0.05 for all analyses. Different aspects of fatigue were determined using the Spanish translation of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (IMF-20). The Grit-S scale was used to measure the ability to persevere, have passion and commit. The results indicated that men scored higher in FF, C/M and PE, while women obtained higher values in FG and CI. Non-contract coaches had higher FG, CI and PE, while coaches with contracts scored higher on C/M and FF. In conclusion, coaches with higher CI had higher FG, and high levels of PE were associated with low FG levels.

Adaptação transcultural do Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory – 10 para o idioma português do Brasil

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Implementação de um Protocolo Fisioterapêutico em Pacientes Hemato-Oncológicos

Introdução: Os cânceres hematológicos afetam o organismo com diversas disfunções, e a fisioterapia tem o intuito de auxiliar na prevenção e no tratamento, proporcionando uma melhor qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Verificar os efeitos de um protocolo fisioterapêutico em indivíduos com câncer hematológico. Método: Trata-se de um estudo quase-experimental, com participantes de 18 a 50 anos de idade, de ambos os sexos, realizado no Complexo Hospitalar da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre. Aplicou-se um protocolo fisioterapêutico por quatro semanas, conforme o estágio hematológico individual, no qual foram avaliados força, bem-estar geral e performance, além de fadiga, respectivamente, com as escalas: Medical Research Council (MRC), Karnofsky, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG) e Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) 20 - versão brasileira. Resultados: Foram incluídos 11 indivíduos. Verificou-se um aumento significativo da força muscular (p=0,024). Na avaliação do bem-estar geral e performance, não houve diferença significativa (p=0,192) e (p=0,368), assim como nos exames sanguíneos (p>0,05). Na análise dos sinais vitais, apenas a frequência respiratória apresentou aumento significativo no pré e pós-protocolo (p=0,04). Houve correlações significativas entre as escalas de Karnofsky e ECOG (r=-0,81;), MFI e ECOG (r=0,64) e MFI e de Borg (r=0,67), com p<0,05. Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram que é possível utilizar um protocolo fisioterapêutico que se adapte ao perfil hematológico e às condições clínicas do paciente nessa área, existindo correlações entre diversas variáveis funcionais avaliadas, contudo mais estudos são necessários.