Open AccessAssessing fatigue in childhood cancer survivors: Psychometric properties of the Checklist Individual Strength and the Short Fatigue Questionnaire––a DCCSS LATER study
Author(s) -
Penson Adriaan,
Walraven Iris,
Bronkhorst Ewald,
Grootenhuis Martha A.,
Tissing Wim J. E.,
van der Pal Helena J. H.,
de Vries Andrica C. H.,
van den HeuvelEibrink Marry M.,
Neggers Sebastian,
Versluys Birgitta A. B.,
Louwerens Marloes,
Pluijm Saskia M. F.,
Blijlevens Nicole,
van der Heidenvan der Loo Margriet,
Kremer Leontien C. M.,
van Dulmenden Broeder Eline,
Knoop Hans,
Loonen Jacqueline
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.4490
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , construct validity , medicine , normative , checklist , confirmatory factor analysis , cancer related fatigue , criterion validity , cohort , psychometrics , clinical psychology , psychology , cancer , structural equation modeling , statistics , philosophy , mathematics , epistemology , cognitive psychology
Abstract Background Fatigue is often reported by patients with childhood cancer both during and after cancer treatment. Several instruments to measure fatigue exist, although none are specifically validated for use in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). The aim of the current study was to present norm values and psychometric properties of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) and Short Fatigue Questionnaire (SFQ) in a nationwide cohort of CCS. Methods In total, 2073 participants were included from the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (DCCSS) LATER cohort. Normative data, construct validity, structural validity, and internal consistency were calculated for the CIS and SFQ. In addition, reliability and a cutoff score to indicate severe fatigue were determined for the SFQ. Results Correlations between CIS/SFQ and vitality measures asking about fatigue were high (>0.8). Correlations between CIS/SFQ and measures of different constructs (sleep, depressive emotions, and role functioning emotional) were moderate (0.4–0.6). Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a four‐factor solution for the CIS and a one‐factor solution for the SFQ with Cronbach's alpha for each (sub)scale showing good to excellent values (>0.8). Test–retest reliability of the SFQ was adequate (Pearson's correlation = 0.88; ICC = 0.946; weighted Cohen's kappa item scores ranged 0.31–0.50) and a cut‐off score of 18 showed good sensitivity and specificity scores (92.6% and 91.3%, respectively). Conclusion The current study shows that the SFQ is a good instrument to screen for severe fatigue in CCS. The CIS can be used as a tool to assess the multiple fatigue dimensions in CCS.