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Fatigue in children: reliability and validity of the Dutch PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale
M Suzanne Gordijn1, M Suzanne Gordijn, Eline M P Cremers
1Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, PK 4X 033, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ms.gordijn@vumc.nl
Insights
The Dutch PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing fatigue in children aged 2-18. It provides essential norm-references for evaluating fatigue in both healthy and chronically ill youth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Psychometrics
- Quality of Life Measurement
Background:
- Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in children.
- Accurate assessment of fatigue is crucial for diagnosis and management.
- The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale is a widely used instrument for measuring fatigue in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Dutch version of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale.
- To establish norm-references for the Dutch version of the scale.
- To determine its utility in diverse pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 497 parents and 366 children (aged 2-18 years).
- Participants completed the Dutch version of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale.
- Statistical analyses included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-observer reliability, and parent-child concordance.
Main Results:
- Minimal missing data and satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.70).
- Good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICCs 0.68-0.84) and moderate to excellent inter-observer reliability (ICCs 0.56-0.93).
- The scale effectively differentiated between healthy and chronically ill children.
Conclusions:
- The Dutch PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale is feasible, reliable, and valid in a Dutch sociocultural context.
- Established norm-references allow for its use in evaluating fatigue in children aged 2-18.
- The scale is a valuable tool for assessing fatigue in both healthy and chronically ill children.
Purpose:
The aim of the study is to report on the feasibility, reliability, validity, and the norm-references of the Dutch version of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale.
Methods:
The study participants are four hundred and ninety-seven parents of children aged 2-18 years and 366 children aged 5-18 years from various day care facilities, elementary schools, and a high school who completed the Dutch version of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale.
Results:
The number of missing items was minimal. All scales showed satisfactory internal consistency reliability, with Cronbach's coefficient alpha exceeding 0.70. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent (ICCs 0.68-0.84) and inter-observer reliability varied from moderate to excellent (ICCs 0.56-0.93) for total scores. Parent/child concordance for total scores was poor to good (ICCs 0.25-0.68). The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale was able to distinguish between healthy children and children with an impaired health condition.
Conclusions:
The Dutch version of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale demonstrates an adequate feasibility, reliability, and validity in another sociocultural context. With the obtained norm-references, it can be utilized as a tool in the evaluation of fatigue in healthy and chronically ill children aged 2-18 years.
