High Validity and Reliability of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale for Brazilian Children With Cancer

Abstract

Among the main factors that affect patients’ quality of life, fatigue is a significant symptom experienced by children during treatment. Despite the high incidence, there has been no validated scale to evaluate fatigue in children with cancer in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, using self-reports of Brazilian children, 8 to 18 years of age, and proxy reports. A cross-sectional method was used to collect data from 216 subjects over an 18-month period. Reliability ranged from .70 to .90 except for sleep/rest fatigue, self-report (α = .55). No floor or ceiling effects were found in any dimension. Convergent validity was higher than .40 and divergent validity had 100% adjustment. The root mean square error of approximation was acceptable. The comparative fit index was lower than expected. The agreement between self and proxy responses was weak and moderate. The results demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version in children with cancer. This is the first validated scale that assesses fatigue in Brazilian children and adolescents with cancer.

Keywords

child adolescent fatigue cancer validation

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