Propriedades psicométricas da Dutch Fatigue Scale e Dutch Exertion Fatigue Scale: versão brasileira

Comparison of tools for assessing fatigue in patients with heart failure

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the distributions of measurements of the Dutch Fatigue Scale (DUFS), Dutch Exertion Fatigue Scale (DEFS), and Fatigue Pictogram tools, according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Method: Methodological, cross-sectional study with 118 patients with heart failure. Variance analysis, Pearson's correlation, and Fisher's exact tests were carried out, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: There was an increase in the DUFS and DEFS means with worsening of the NYHA-FC (p<0.001, for both tools). Correlations among the LVEF resulted in positive and weak magnitude for the DEFS (r=0.18; p=0.05) and for the DUFS (r=0.16; p=0.08). Just the item A on the Fatigue Pictogram had an association with the NYHA-FC (p<0.001) and the LVEF (p=0.03). Conclusion: Three tools detected worsening in fatigue levels according to the illness severity assessed by the NYHA-FC.

Associação entre fadiga e capacidade funcional em pacientes com claudicação intermitente

RESUMOObjetivo:caracterizar fadiga e fadiga ao esforço em pacientes com claudicação intermitente (CI) e testar sua associação com variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas, capacidade de locomoção e nível de atividade física.Método:foram avaliados 49 participantes (66,6 anos; 70% do sexo masculino). Foram utilizados instrumentos validados para avaliar fadiga (DUFS), fadiga ao esforço (DEFS), nível de atividade física (BASIC) e capacidade de locomoção (WIQ).Resultados:os participantes apresentaram fadiga substancial (DUFS = 20,4 + 8,8) e fadiga substancial ao esforço (DEFS = 20,4 + 10,8). Observou-se associação da DUFS com convivência marital (p = 0,008). Houve associação estatisticamente significativa da DEFS com escores da BASIC (r = 0,331; p = 0,02) e dos domínios distância caminhada (r = 0,359; p = 0,011) e subir escadas (r = 0,331; p = 0,02) do WIQ.Conclusão:pacientes com CI apresentam fadiga e fadiga ao esforço. É possível que a fadiga ao esforço comprometa o engajamento desses pacientes na prática de atividade física, um dos principais componentes do tratamento da CI.

[Validation of the Spanish version of the HIV Related Fatigue Scale and application in people with hepatitis C]

OBJECTIVES

To validate the American fatigue scale HIV-Related Fatigue Scale (HRFS) and present the Spanish version called Integrated Fatigue Assessment Scale to assess fatigue in HCV and co-infected patients.

METHOD

Psychometric study with cross-sectional design was used. The HRFS was translated into Spanish using the back-translation method-later to be validated. Participants completed the questionnaire adapted to a self-report form, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the Spanish version was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 7 public service hospitals and two prisons in Catalonia participated in the evaluation. The sample consisted of 122 subjects selected by consecutive sampling in the fourth week of treatment of hepatitis C with combination therapy or triple therapy. The Cronbach alpha for the total scale was 0.958. Content Validity Index (I-CVI) varied from 0.5 to 1. Validity Scale Content-level (S-CVI) was 0.85. Pearson correlations between the three dimensions were between 0.49 and 0.68.

CONCLUSIONS

The process followed for the cultural adaptation and validation shows that the Spanish version of the HRFS) is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in clinical practice and in the investigation of fatigue in patients with hepatitis C.

Psychometric properties of the multidimensional fatigue inventory in Brazilian Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors

CONTEXT

Fatigue is the most common symptom among Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI).

METHODS

The MFI was translated into Brazilian Portuguese using established forward-backward translation procedures, and the psychometric properties were evaluated in a sample of 200 Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors. The psychometric properties evaluated included internal consistency and construct validity. The MFI was administered along with the informed consent form.

RESULTS

The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the 20 items was 0.84, ranging from 0.59 to 0.81 for each of the five scales. Correlations between items and scales ranged from 0.32 to 0.72. The factor analysis yielded a five-factor solution that explained 65% of the variance. The first factor merged the original "general fatigue" and "physical fatigue" scales, as has been previously reported. The second factor identified the original "mental fatigue" scale and the fifth factor identified the original "reduced activity" scale. Questions from the original "reduced motivation" scale were represented in both factors three and four.

CONCLUSION

The Brazilian version of the MFI showed satisfactory psychometric properties and can be considered a valid research tool for assessing cancer-related fatigue.

Psychiatric disorders in burning mouth syndrome

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is high, but their role in the pathogenesis of BMS remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The authors aimed to assess the frequency of psychiatric disorders and the severity of psychopathology in BMS.

METHODS

Thirty BMS patients and thirty-one controls underwent a psychiatric evaluation which included a structured interview (MINI-Plus) and five psychometric scales. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure the intensity of burning sensation.

RESULTS

Patients with BMS showed a higher frequency of current major depressive disorder, past major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, hypochondria and cancerophobia (p<0.05). In BMS patients, generalized anxiety disorder was significantly associated with current major depression and social phobia (p<0.05). As expected, cancerophobia was significantly associated with hypochondria (p<0.05). Patients with BMS had higher scores in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Dutch Fatigue Scale (DUFS) (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

BMS patients may have a particular psychological and/or psychiatric profile. Psychometric scales might be useful in screening psychiatric disorders, as well as for assessment of treatment outcomes. In the presence of clinical relevant psychiatric symptoms, patients must be treated appropriately.