Article

We evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Fatigue Severity
Scale (FSS) and the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) and to determine whether these
scales are potentially applicable for measuring fatigue in postpolio patients
(PPS). After the Turkish adaptation of FSS and FIS using a forward-backward
procedure, the scales were administered to 48 PPS patients without additional
health problems that may induce fatigue. Reliability studies were carried out by
determination of intraclass correlation coefficient and internal consistency by
the Cronbach-alpha coefficient. Validity was tested by within-scale analyses and
analyses against the external criteria including convergent validity and
discriminant validity. Correlations with the Notthingham Health Profile (NHP),
fatigue, pain and cramp severity (visual analog scale), and manual muscle testing
were performed. Sensitivity to changes was determined by standardized response
mean values. All patients completed scales, suggesting their satisfactory
acceptance. Reliability studies were satisfactory, with higher Cronbach-alpha
values and intraclass correlation coefficients than 0.80. The FSS score was
correlated moderately with visual analog scale-fatigue (r=0.41) and the
NHP-energy dimension (r=0.29). All FIS scores except cognitive scores were
moderately related to the NHP-social isolation score (r=0.40, 0.37, and 0.43 for
FIS-physical, social, and total scores, respectively). There was also a
significant correlation between the FIS-physical score and the NHP-energy score
(r=0.31). On the basis of the standardized response mean values, response to
treatment for these two questionnaires was satisfactory (P=0.00). The Turkish
versions of FSS and FIS were reliable, sensitive to clinical changes, and also
well accepted by patients with PPS. Although they had somewhat satisfactory
convergent validity, the absence of strong correlations did not support the
validity entirely.

Langue : ANGLAIS