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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research

Psychometric characteristics of the short form 36 health survey and functional assessment of chronic illness Therapy-Fatigue subscale for patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Authors: Dennis A Revicki, Anne M Rentz, Michelle P Luo, Robert L Wong

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

We evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue subscale in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

We analyzed clinical and patient-reported outcome (PRO) data collected during 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled periods of two randomized controlled trials comparing adalimumab and placebo for the treatment of active AS. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, and other clinical measures were collected during the clinical trial. We evaluated internal consistency/reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness to change for the SF-36 and FACIT-Fatigue.

Results

The SF-36 (Cronbach alpha, 0.74-0.92) and FACIT-Fatigue (Cronbach alpha, 0.82-0.86) both had good internal consistency/reliability. At baseline, SF-36 and FACIT-Fatigue scores correlated significantly with Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life scores (r = -0.36 to -0.66 and r = -0.70, respectively; all p < 0.0001). SF-36 scores varied by indicators of clinical severity, with greater impairment observed for more severe degrees of clinical activity (all p < 0.0001). FACIT-Fatigue scores correlated significantly with SF-36 scores (r = 0.42 to 0.74; all p < 0.0001) and varied by clinical severity (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The SF-36 is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of health-related quality of life and the FACIT-Fatigue is a brief and psychometrically sound measure of the effects of fatigue on patients with AS. These PROs may be useful in evaluating effectiveness of new treatments for AS.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00085644 and NCT00195819
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Psychometric characteristics of the short form 36 health survey and functional assessment of chronic illness Therapy-Fatigue subscale for patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors
Dennis A Revicki
Anne M Rentz
Michelle P Luo
Robert L Wong
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-9-36

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