Validating the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function (FSMC) in chronic stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Post-stroke fatigue significantly impacts survivors' quality of life, manifesting as both physical and mental exhaustion.
• The Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) assesses motor and cognitive fatigue separately, but its psychometric properties in stroke populations were previously undocumented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of the FSMC in individuals with chronic stroke.
• To establish the FSMC as a robust measure for assessing distinct fatigue domains post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-four participants with chronic stroke underwent two FSMC assessments.
• Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha; reliability was assessed via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
• Concurrent validity was determined by correlating FSMC scores with the Fatigue Severity Scale and Visual Analog Scale-Fatigue.

Main Results:

• The FSMC demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.9) and moderate to good reliability (ICC = 0.72-0.81).
• Concurrent validity was moderate to good with the Fatigue Severity Scale (ρ = 0.66-0.72).
• Concurrent validity with the Visual Analog Scale-Fatigue was fair (ρ = 0.37-0.44).

Conclusions:

• The FSMC is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring post-stroke fatigue.
• The FSMC can be effectively utilized to assess both physical and cognitive fatigue in individuals with chronic stroke, aiding in treatment and management strategies.