Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the fatigue scale-adolescent

Authors: Ka Yan Ho, William H. C. Li, Ka Wai Katherine Lam, S. Y. Chui, Chi-Fung Godfrey Chan

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately assesses the level of fatigue among adolescent cancer survivors is crucial before any appropriate interventions to reduce their fatigue can be appropriately planned and evaluated. The study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents. In particular, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine its factorial structure.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was employed. Adolescents (13- to 18-year-olds) who had survived cancer and attended medical follow-up at the outpatient clinic in Hong Kong were invited to participate. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents were assessed.

Results

The content validity index was 0.92. There was a strong positive correlation between adolescents’ levels of fatigue and depressive symptoms (r = 0.53) and a strong negative correlation between adolescents’ levels of fatigue and quality of life (r = –0.58). The mean levels of fatigue of the survivors group was significantly lower than that of those still receiving treatment in hospital, but significantly higher than that of their healthy counterparts. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that there were 4 factors underlying the Chinese version of the Cancer Module.

Conclusions

The findings of the study add further evidence that the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents (12-item) can be used as a reliable and valid tool in assessing cancer-related fatigue among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents who have survived cancer.
Literature
1.
Enskar K, von Essen L. Physical problems and psychosocial function in children with cancer. Pediatr Nurs. 2008;20:37–41.CrossRef
2.
Li HCW, Chung OKJ, Ho KY, Chiu SY, Lopez V. Coping strategies used by children hospitalized with cancer: an exploratory study. Psycho-Oncology. 2011;20:969–76.PubMed
3.
Langeveld NE, Grootenhuis MA, Voute PA, Haan RJ, Bos CVD. Quality-of-life, self-esteem and worries in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2004;13:867–81.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Stam H, Grootenhuis MA, Caron HN, Last BF. Quality-of-life and current coping in young adult survivors of childhood cancer: positive expectations about the further course of the disease were correlated with better quality-of-life. Psycho-Oncology. 2006;15:31–43.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Braam KI, van Dijk EM, Veening MA, Bierings MB, Merks JH, Grootenhuis MA, et al. Design of the Quality of Life in Motion (QLIM) study: a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a combined physical exercise and psychosocial training program to improve physical fitness in children with cancer. BioMed Centra. 2010;10:624.
6.
Kestler SA, LoBiondo-Wood G. Review of symptom experiences in children and adolescents with cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2012;35:E31–49.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Yeh CH, Wai JPM, Lin US, Chiang YC. A pilot study to examine the feasibility and effects of a home-based aerobic program on reducing fatigue in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Nurs. 2011;34:3–12.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Li HCW, Williams PD, Lopez V, Chung OKJ, Chiu SY. Relationships among therapy-related symptoms, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in Chinese children hospitalized with cancer: an exploratory study. Cancer Nurs. 2013;36:346–54.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Chung OKJ, Li HW, Chiu SY, Ho KY, Lopez V. The impact of cancer and its treatment on physical activity levels and behavior in Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs. 2014;37:E43–51.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Hamre H, Zeller B, Kanellopoulos A, Kiserud CE, Aakhus S, Lund MB, et al. High prevalence of chronic fatigue in adult long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma during childhood and adolescence. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2013;2:2–9.CrossRef
11.
Lucia A, Earnest C, Perez M. Cancer-related fatigue: can exercise physiology assist oncologists? Lancet Oncol. 2003;4:616–1625.CrossRefPubMed
12.
13.
14.
Winningham ML. Strategies for managing cancer-related fatigue syndrome: a rehabilitation approach. Cancer. 2001;92:988–97.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Bower JE, Ganz PA, Irwin MR, Kwan L, Breen EC, Cole SW. Inflammation and behavioral symptoms after breast cancer treatment: Do fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance share a common underlying mechanism? J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:3517–22.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Li HCW, Chung OKJ, Chiu SY, Ho KYE, Lopez V. Effectiveness of an integrated adventure-based training and health education program in promoting regular physical activity among childhood cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22:2601–10.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Paxton RJ, Jones LW, Rosoff PM, Bonner M, Ater JL, Demark-Wahnefried W. Associations between leisure-time physical activity and health-related quality of life among adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancers. Psycho-Oncology. 2010;19:997–1003.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
18.
Hockenberry-Eaton M, Hinds PS. Fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer: evaluation of a program of study. Sem Oncol Nurs. 2000;16:261–72.CrossRef
19.
Chiang YC, Yeh CH, Wang KWK, Yang CP. The experience of cancer-related fatigue in Taiwanese children. Euro J Cancer Care. 2009;18:43–9.CrossRef
20.
Stolley MR, Restrepo J, Sharp LK. Diet and physical activity in childhood cancer survivors: a review of the literature. Ann Behav Med. 2010;39:232–49.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Tomlinson D, Diorio C, Beyene J, Sung L. Effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue: A meta-analysis. Am J of Phys Med Rehabil. 2014;93:675–86.CrossRef
22.
Kapoor A, Singhal MK, Bagri PK, Narayan S, Beniwal S, Kumar HS. Cancer-related fatigue: A ubiquitous problem yet so under reported, under recognized and under treated. South Asian J Cancer. 2015;4:21–3.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Nagai A, Zou N, Kubota M, Kojima C, Adachi S, Usami I, et al. Fatigue in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia in Japan. Pediatr Int. 2012;54:272–6.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Tomlinson D, Hinds PS, Ethier MC, Ness KK, Zupanec S, Sung L. Psychometric properties of instruments used to measure fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer: A systematic review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013;45:83–91.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Hinds PS, Hockenberry MJ, Tong X, Rai SN, Gattuso JS, McCarthy K, et al. Validity and reliability of a new instrument to measure cancer-related fatigue in adolescents. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007;34:607–18.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Sanford SD, Okuma JO, Pan J, Rai SN, Gattuso JS, McCarthy K, et al. Gender differences in sleep, fatigue, and daytime activity in a pediatric oncology sample receiving dexamethasone. J Pediatr Psychol. 2008;33:298–306.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Chiang Y-C, Hinds PS, Yeh C-H, Yang C-P, Srivastava DK. Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the fatigue scale-adolescent. Cancer Nurs. 2008;31:E1–8.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Perdikaris P, Merkouris A, Patiraki E, Tsoumakas K, Vasilatou-Kosmidis E, Matziou V. Evaluating cancer related fatigue during treatment according to children’s, adolescents’ and parents’ perspectives in a sample of Greek young patients. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2009;13:399–408.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Gorsuch RL. Factor analysis. 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum; 1983.
30.
Li HCW, Chung OKJ, Ho KYE. Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale for children: psychometric testing of the Chinese version. J Adv Nurs. 2010;66:2582–91.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Chan LFP, Chow SMK, Lo SK. Preliminary validation of the Chinese version of the pediatric quality of life inventory. Int J Rehabil Res. 2005;28:219–27.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Bracken BA, Barona A. State of the art procedures for translating, validating and using psychoeducational tests in cross-cultural assessment. Sch Psychol Int. 1991;12:119–32.CrossRef
33.
Flaherty JA, Gaviria FM, Pathak D, Mitchell T, Wintrob R, Richman JA, et al. Developing instruments for cross-cultural psychiatric research. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1988;176:257–63.PubMed
34.
Waltz CF, Strickland OL, Lenz ER. Measurement in nursing and health research. 4th ed. New York: Springer Publishing Co; 2005.
35.
Byrne BM. Structural equation modelling with LISREL, PRELIS and SIMPLIS: Basic concepts, applications and programming. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; 1998.
36.
Li WHC, Wong EML, Lopez V. Factorial structure of the Chinese version of the state anxiety scale for children (short form). J Clin Nurs. 2008;17:1762–70.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Browne MW, Cudeck R. Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In: Bollen KA, Long JS, editors. Testing structural equation models. Newbury Park, NJ: Sage Publications; 1993. p. 136–62.
38.
Floyd FJ, Widaman KF. Factor analysis in the development and refinement of clinical assessment instruments. Psychol Assess. 1995;7:286–99.CrossRef
39.
Hu L, Bentler PM. Cut-off criteria for fit indices in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Struct Equat Model. 1999;6:1–31.CrossRef
40.
Portney LG, Watkins MP. Foundations of clinical research: applications to practice. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Health; 2009.
41.
Nunally JC, Bernstein IH. Psychometric theory. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1994.
42.
Li HCW, Chan SLP, Chung OKJ, Chui MLM. Relationships among mental health, self-esteem and physical health in Chinese adolescents: An exploratory study. J Health Psychol. 2010;15:96–106.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Li HCW, Lopez V, Chung OKJ, Ho KYE, Chiu SY. The impact of cancer on the physical, psychological and social well-being of childhood cancer survivors. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2013;17:214–9.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Chan EA, Cheung K, Mok E, Cheung S, Tong E. A narrative inquiry into the Hong Kong Chinese adults’ concepts of health through their cultural stories. Int J Nurs Stud. 2006;43:301–9.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Bower JE, Bak K, Berger A, Breitbart W, Escalante CP, Ganz PA, et al. Screening, assessment, and management of fatigue in adult survivors of cancer: an american society of clinical oncology clinical practice guideline adaptation. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32:1840–50.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the fatigue scale-adolescent
Authors
Ka Yan Ho
William H. C. Li
Ka Wai Katherine Lam
S. Y. Chui
Chi-Fung Godfrey Chan
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-015-1945-y

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Cancer 1/2015 Go to the issue

Research article

In vitro and in vivo antiproliferative activity of metformin on stem-like cells isolated from spontaneous canine mammary carcinomas: translational implications for human tumors

Research article

Evaluation of public cancer datasets and signatures identifies TP53 mutant signatures with robust prognostic and predictive value

Research article

The Functionality Assessment Flowchart (FAF): a new simple and reliable method to measure performance status with a high percentage of agreement between observers

Study protocol

Study design and protocol for moving forward: a weight loss intervention trial for African-American breast cancer survivors

Research article

DKK1 is a potential novel mediator of cisplatin-refractoriness in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

Research article

Under-treatment of elderly patients with ovarian cancer: a population based study
Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras
Prof. Fabrice Barlesi
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Image Credits