Abstract
BackgroundBecause of the absence of biological parameters for fatigue, appropriate instruments for assessing the degree of fatigue are important in the diagnosis and management of people complaining of fatigue-like symptoms. This study statistically analyzed the fatigue scores from two typical questionnaire-based instruments: the Korean version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-K) and the modified Chalder Fatigue Scale (mKCFQ).MethodsSeventy participants (males n = 40, females n = 30, median age 48 years old, range of 25–67) were grouped into three groups (‘mild’ = 20, ‘moderate’ = 42, and ‘severe’ = 8) according to self-reported fatigue levels using a 7-point Likert scale. The similarities and differences between two instrument-derived scores were analyzed using correlations (r) and multidimensional scaling (MDS).ResultsThe total scores of the two assessments were significantly correlated (r = 75%, p < 0.001), as were the subscores (‘Total Physical fatigue’: r = 76%, p < 0.001, ‘Total Mental fatigue’: r = 56%, p < 0.001). Relative overestimation of the MFI-K (45.8 ± 11.3) compared to the mKCFQ (36.1 ± 16.2) was observed, which was especially prominent in the ‘mild’ group. The scores of the three groups were more easily distinguished by the mKCFQ than by the MFI-K. In terms of the five dimension scores, we found a higher correlation of the two assessments for ‘general fatigue’ (r = 79%, p < 0.001) and ‘physical fatigue’ (r = 66%, p < 0.001) than for the reductions in ‘motivation’ (r = 41%, p < 0.01) and ‘activity’ (r = 26%, p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur results may indicate the usefulness of the two instruments, especially for the physical symptoms of fatigue (‘general’ and ‘physical’ fatigue). Furthermore, the MFI-K may be useful for conditions of moderate-to-severe fatigue, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, but the mKCFQ may be useful for all spectra of fatigue, including in subhealthy people.
Highlights
Because of the absence of biological parameters for fatigue, appropriate instruments for assessing the degree of fatigue are important in the diagnosis and management of people complaining of fatigue-like symptoms
Comparisons of the total scores of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI)‐K and Korean version of modified chalder fatigue scale (mKCFQ) according to fatigue level As expected, the total scores of both the Korean version of multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-K) and mKCFQ showed a correlation with fatigue level, while the correlation coefficients (r) was higher for the mKCFQ (r = 0.76%, p < 0.001) than for the MFI-K (r = 0.57%, p < 0.001)
The mKCFQ score was more differentiated according to the fatigue level than the MFI-K score (Fig. 1)
Summary
Because of the absence of biological parameters for fatigue, appropriate instruments for assessing the degree of fatigue are important in the diagnosis and management of people complaining of fatigue-like symptoms. Fatigue could be a physiological response as well as a disorder; there is no objective biological parameter to assess fatigue, which raises problems in the diagnosis and management of fatigue [9]. Some are fatigue-nonspecific instruments, such as the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) [10], Clinical Global Impression (CGI) [11], and Sickness Impact Profile-8 (SIP-8) [12], while fatigue-specific tools include the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) scale [13], Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) [14], and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) [15]
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