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Assessing fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Dutch modified fatigue impact scale
Daphne Kos1, Eric Kerckhofs, Guy Nagels
1Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Research, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. Daphne.Kos@vub.ac.be
Acta Neurologica Belgica
|March 11, 2004
Summary
The Dutch Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) is a reliable tool for measuring multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue. It accurately assesses MS-related fatigue
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Fatigue is a significant and debilitating symptom for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Accurate assessment of MS-related fatigue is crucial for effective management and treatment.
- Existing fatigue scales may not fully capture the impact of fatigue on daily life in the MS population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Dutch version of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).
- To determine if the Dutch MFIS can effectively differentiate between individuals with MS and healthy controls.
- To assess the sensitivity of the Dutch MFIS to changes in fatigue levels following a rehabilitation program.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 51 individuals with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 20 healthy controls.
- Participants completed the Dutch MFIS, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS) fatigue subscale.
- Test-retest reliability was assessed within three days, and responsiveness was evaluated in hospitalized MS patients before and after a four-week rehabilitation program.
Main Results:
- The Dutch MFIS demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (correlation = .729) and no significant differences between administrations.
- The MFIS effectively distinguished individuals with MS from controls and fatigued from non-fatigued groups, showing no floor or ceiling effects.
- The MFIS showed moderate correlations with the FSS (.447) and GNDS fatigue subscale (.487).
- Hospitalized MS patients showed significantly lower MFIS scores post-rehabilitation, indicating responsiveness, while the FSS did not change.
Conclusions:
- The Dutch version of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) is a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument.
- The MFIS is suitable for assessing the impact of MS-related fatigue on daily functioning in Dutch-speaking populations.
- The MFIS is a valuable tool for clinicians and researchers managing fatigue in multiple sclerosis.