Psychometric properties of instruments used to measure fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

Context: Despite the recognized distressing symptom of fatigue in children with cancer, little information is available to assist in the selection of an instrument to be used to measure fatigue.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to 1) describe the instruments that have been used to measure cancer-related fatigue in children and adolescents and 2) summarize the psychometric properties of the most commonly used instruments used to measure fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer.

Methods: Five major electronic databases were systematically searched for studies using a fatigue measurement scale in a population of children or adolescents with cancer. Fatigue scales used in those studies were included in the review.

Results: From a total of 1753 articles, 25 were included. We identified two main fatigue measurement instruments used in a pediatric oncology population: 1) the Fatigue Scale-Child/Fatigue Scale-Adolescent and the proxy report versions for parents and staff and 2) the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. These two scales show similar attributes with reasonably good internal consistency and responsiveness.

Conclusion: Either the Fatigue Scale or PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale can be incorporated into clinical research. Future research should focus on identifying specific fatigue measures more suited to different purposes such as comparative trials or identification of high-risk groups.