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Article
Measurement of Fatigue: Determining Minimally Important Clinical Differences
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
  • Anna L. Schwartz, Oregon Health Sciences University
  • Paula M. Meek, University of Arizona
  • Lillian M. Nail, Oregon Health Sciences University
  • Jamison D. Fargo, Utah State University
  • Margaret Lundquist, University of Utah
  • Melissa Donofrio
  • Merilyn Grainger
  • Terry Throckmorton, University of Texas
  • Magdalena Mateo, Northeastern University
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Elsevier
Publication Date
1-1-2002
Abstract

The purpose was to determine the minimally important clinical difference (MICD) in fatigue as measured by the Profile of Mood States, Schwartz Cancer Fatigue Scale (SCFS), General Fatigue Scale, and a 10-point single-item fatigue measure. The MICD is the smallest amount of change in a symptom (e.g., fatigue) measure that signifies an important change in that symptom. Subjects rated the degree of change in their fatigue over 2 days on a Global Rating Scale. 103 patients were enrolled on this multisite prospective repeated measures design. MICD was determined following established procedures at two time points. Statistically significant changes were observed for moderate and large changes in fatigue, but not for small changes. The scales were sensitive to increases in fatigue over time. The MICD, presented as mean change, for each scale and per item on each scale is: POMS = 5.6, per item = 1.1, SCFS = 5.0, per item = 0.8, GFS = 9.7, per item = 1.0, and the single item measure of fatigue was 2.4 points. This information may be useful in interpreting scale scores and planning studies using these measures.

Citation Information
Schwartz AL, Meek PM, Nail LM, Fargo JD, Lundquist M, Donofrio M, Grainger M, Throckmorton T, Mateo M. Measurement of fatigue: Determining minimally important clinical differences. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2002;55:239-244.