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. 2012 Nov-Dec;27(6):E28-35.
doi: 10.1097/HTR.0b013e31826fe574.

Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale in traumatic brain injury: an NIDRR Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems study

Anthony Lequerica  1 , Tamara Bushnik, Jerry Wright, Stephanie A Kolakowsky-Hayner, Flora M Hammond, Marcel P Dijkers, Joshua Cantor
Affiliations

Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale in traumatic brain injury: an NIDRR Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems study

Anthony Lequerica et al. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2012 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sample.

Design: Prospective survey study.

Setting: Community.

Participants: One hundred sixty-seven individuals with TBI admitted for inpatient rehabilitation, enrolled into the TBI Model Systems national database, and followed up at either the first or second year postinjury.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measure(s): Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue.

Results: The initial analysis, using items 1 to 14, which are based on a 10-point rating scale, found that only 1 item ("walking") misfit the overall construct of fatigue in this TBI population. However, this 10-point rating scale was found to have disordered thresholds. When ratings were collapsed into 4 response categories, all MAF items used to calculate the Global Fatigue Index formed a unidimensional scale.

Conclusion(s): Findings generally support the unidimensionality of the MAF when used in a TBI population but call into question the use of a 10-point rating scale for items 1 to 14. Further study is needed to investigate the use of a 4-category rating scale across all items and the fit of the "walking" item for a measure of fatigue among individuals with TBI.

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