Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Measuring the Motor Aspect of Cancer-Related Fatigue using a Handheld Dynamometer
Published on: February 20, 2020
Validity and Reliability of the Taiwanese Version of the General Fatigue Scale in Cancer Patients
Hsiu-Ling Chou1, Pi-Ching Hsieh, Chung-Tay Yao
1Author Affiliations: Department of Nursing, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City and School of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei (Dr Chou); Department of Nursing, Oriental Institute of Technology, New Taipei City (Drs Chou and Yao); Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei (Dr Hsieh); Department of Emergency Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei; School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan (Dr Yao); Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Dr Barsevick).
Background:
Fatigue has been described as the most frequent and distressing problem of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Taiwanese version of the General Fatigue Scale (GFS-T) and to evaluate the severity of the fatigue among breast cancer patients in Taiwan.
Methods:
A cross-sectional research design was used, recruiting breast cancer patients from 2 medical centers in Taiwan. Patients completed the scale exploring their GFS-T, the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status. The data were collected between the day before the first chemotherapy (T1) and 1 week after the first chemotherapy (T2).
Results:
A total of 171 patients participated in this study. Cronbach's α for the GFS-T at both time points both were .94. Factor analysis generated 1 factor that accounted for 73.7% of variance in participants' fatigue. The receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that the GFS-T cut-point of 24 had an adequate combination of sensitivity and specificity to distinguish high and low performance status. The receiver operating characteristic curve is 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.75).
Conclusions:
The GFS-T is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing fatigue among cancer patients. Further research is needed to better understand predictors of cancer-related fatigue.
Implications For Practice:
The GFS-T can provide clinical nurses with a useful measure to assess fatigue in cancer patients.
