The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in young adults:: feasibility, reliability and validity in a university student population

Background and objective The PedsQL(TM) (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TM) is a modular instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disease-specific symptoms in children and adolescents ages 2-18. The PedsQL TM Multidimensional Fatigue Scale was designed as a generic symptom-specific instrument to measure fatigue in pediatric patients ages 2-18. Since a sizeable number of pediatric patients prefer to remain with their pediatric providers after age 18, the objective of the present study was to determine the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the PedsQL(TM) Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in young adults. Method The 18-item PedsQL TM Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (General Fatigue, Sleep/Rest Fatigue, and Cognitive Fatigue domains), the PedsQL(TM) 4.0 Generic Core Scales Young Adult Version, and the SF-8(TM) Health Survey were completed by 423 university students ages 18-25. Results The PedsQL(TM) Multidimensional Fatigue Scale evidenced minimal missing responses, achieved excellent reliability for the Total Scale Score (alpha = 0.90), distinguished between healthy young adults and young adults with chronic health conditions, was significantly correlated with the relevant PedsQL(TM) 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the SF-8(TM) standardized scores, and demonstrated a factor-derived structure largely consistent with the a priori conceptual model. Conclusions The results demonstrate the measurement properties of the PedsQL TM Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in a convenience sample of young adult university students. The findings suggest that the PedsQL TM Multidimensional Fatigue Scale may be utilized in the evaluation of fatigue for a broad age range.