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PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in sickle cell disease: feasibility, reliability, and validity
Julie A Panepinto1, Sylvia Torres, Cristiane B Bendo
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin of the Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|September 17, 2013
Summary
The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale is a reliable tool for assessing fatigue in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). It shows excellent measurement properties, confirming its utility in clinical research and practice for SCD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Clinical Psychology
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder causing chronic hemolytic anemia, leading to fatigue and cognitive issues in children.
- Assessing fatigue in pediatric SCD patients is crucial for understanding disease impact and guiding treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in pediatric patients with SCD.
- To assess patient self-report (ages 5-18) and parent proxy-report (ages 2-18) using the scale.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, multi-site study involving 240 pediatric SCD patients and 303 parents.
- Participants completed the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales.
Main Results:
- The scale demonstrated excellent feasibility and reliability for total scores (patient self-report α=0.90; parent proxy-report α=0.95).
- Construct validity was supported by strong correlations with generic scales, and discriminant validity was shown by worse scores in SCD patients compared to healthy children.
- Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable to excellent model fit for SCD.
Conclusions:
- The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale possesses acceptable to excellent measurement properties in pediatric patients with SCD.
- The findings highlight the significant fatigue experienced by these patients and support the scale's clinical utility for multidimensional fatigue assessment in research and practice.