The multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) psychometric qualities of an instrument to assess fatigue

Smets, Ellen M. A.; Garssen, Bart; Bonke, B.; Haes, J.C.J.M. de

doi:10.1016/0022-3999(94)00125-o

Cited by 2,949 publications

(2,358 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) is a 20-item self-report instrument designed to measure five aspects of current fatigue: General fatigue, Physical fatigue, Mental fatigue, Reduced Activity, and Reduced Motivation (16).The score on each subscale ranges from 4-20, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue. The General Fatigue subscale is commonly referenced as the primary fatigue descriptor, rather than a total MFI scale score.…”

Section: Fatiguementioning

confidence: 99%

Is Iron Deficiency in the Absence of Anemia Associated With Fatigue in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Goldenberg

Graff

Clara

et al. 2013

American Journal of Gastroenterology

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Section: Fatiguementioning

confidence: 99%

Is Iron Deficiency in the Absence of Anemia Associated With Fatigue in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Goldenberg

Graff

Clara

et al. 2013

American Journal of Gastroenterology

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“…There are a number of multidimensional questionnaires available that combine fatigue and the manifestations of the symptom, including the Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) (Piper et al, 1989b), the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) (Smets et al, 1995), the Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) (Schwartz et al, 1993), the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) (Fisk et al, 1993) and the Dutch Fatigue Scale (DUFS) (Tiesinga et al, 1998). With the exception of the DUFS, none of these instruments was recognized to be used in measuring fatigue in patients with CHF.…”

Section: Fatigue In Patients With Chronic Heart Failurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) is a domain-specifi c 20-item self-report instrument designed to measure fi ve dimensions of fatigue (General Fatigue, Physical Fatigue, Reduced Activity, Reduced Motivation and Mental Fatigue) (Smets et al, 1995). The instrument was used in all the quantitative studies of this thesis.…”

Section: Multidimensional Fatigue Inventorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The experiences are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, summed for each dimension to yield a range between 4 and 20, where higher scores indicate a higher level of fatigue. The instrument has demonstrated good reliability in different patient populations undergoing radiotherapy (Smets et al,1995). The Swedish version of the MFI-20 scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's coeffi cient alpha from 0.75 -0.94) in measuring fatigue in radiotherapy patients (Fürst & Åhsberg, 2001).…”

Section: Multidimensional Fatigue Inventorymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fatigue is a Prevalent and Severe Symptom Associated with Uncertainty and Sense of Coherence in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Falk

Swedberg

Gaston‐Johansson

et al. 2007

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing

102

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Although fatigue is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), it is an underestimated problem in the care of patients, and consequently, insuffi ciently investigated. The primary aim of this thesis was, therefore, to advance the knowledge from the patients' perspective by describing characteristics of the fatigue experience and its consequences in daily life in patients with CHF. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationships between fatigue and selected physiological and psychological factors associated with fatigue. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been used and three samples of patients have been interviewed on different occasions. In two of the quantitative studies 93 patients, and in another study 112 patients, consecutively included, were interviewed at the hospital. Fifteen patients were included in the qualitative study. These 15 participants were enrolled when they visited an outpatient clinic and most of them were interviewed in their homes. These interviews were supplemented with the content of an Internet discussion with persons living with CHF.The results of the studies indicated that fatigue embraces the individual's body, emotions and cognitive abilities, forcing the person to physical restrictions that, in turn, perpetuate emotional discomfort. However, the physical sensation of fatigue followed by functional limitations seemed to be the most prevalent and distressing experience in patients with CHF. The patients described fatigue as lacking strength, which was associated in connection with physical efforts and lacking energy, viewed as an annoying sensation after both mental and physical strain. Another dimension of fatigue was described as being sleepy, often with a rapid and unforeseen onset. Consequences of fatigue, such as refraining from daily chores, denying oneself opportunities for rejoice and social isolation, further exaggerated the experience of fatigue. Restorative activities that engaged, absorbed or distracted the patients counteracted these negative consequences. Depressed mood was related to those fatigue dimensions that compromised functional ability and motivation to start any activities, whereas anxiety was associated with cognitive impairment. Feelings of uncertainty were related to physical tiredness, possibly infl icted by limitations in performing activities. Symptom distress that was caused by a number of reported symptoms other than fatigue had a diminutive infl uence on fatigue and separate symptoms that were associated with fatigue were, with the exception of breathlessness, not the fi rst and most pressing symptom reported by the patients. Anemic patients reported more fatigue compared with non-anemic patients and functional status, according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classifi cation criteria, was associated with those fatigue dimensions that encompassed physical tiredness and reduced functioning.The fi ndings provide new insights on the characteristics of fatigue and its con...

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“…Finally. cognitive symptoms such as having difficulties concentrating are included in the scale for 'mental fatigue' (Smets et al 1995). Secondly.…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatigue and radiotherapy: (A) experience in patients undergoing treatment

Visser²,

et al. 1998

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Summary Cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy frequently report fatigue. However, knowledge of the importance of fatigue for these patients and of the factors associated with their fatigue is limited. The aim of the current investigation was to gain more insight into fatigue as related to radiotherapy by answenng the following questions. First. how is the experience of fatigue best described? Secondly, to what extent is fatigue related to sociodemographic, medical (including treatment), physical and psychological factors? Finally, is it possible to predict which patients will suffer from fatigue after completion of radiotherapy? Patients with different types of cancer receiving radiotherapy with curative intent (n = 250) were interviewed before and within 2 weeks of completion of radiotherapy. During treatment, patients rated their fatigue at 2-weekly intervals. Results indicate a gradual increase in fatigue over the period of radiotherapy and a decrease after completion of treatment. Fatigue scores obtained after radiotherapy were onty slightly, although significantly, higher than pretreatment scores. After treatment, 46% of the patients reported fatigue among the three symptoms that caused them most distress. Significant associations were found between post-treatment fatigue and diagnosis, physical distress, functional disability, quality of sleep, psychological distress and depression. No association was found between fatigue and treatment or personality characteristics. Multivariate regression anatysis demonstrated that the intensity of pretreatment fatigue was the best predictor of fatigue after treatment. In view of this finding, a regression analysis was performed to gain more insight into the variables predicting pretreatment fatigue. The degree of functional disability and impaired quality of sleep were found to explain 38% of the variance in fatigue before starting radiotherapy. Fatigue in disease-free patients 9 months after treatment is described in paper (B) in this issue.

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The multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) psychometric qualities of an instrument to assess fatigue

Cited by 2,949 publications

References 15 publications

Is Iron Deficiency in the Absence of Anemia Associated With Fatigue in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Is Iron Deficiency in the Absence of Anemia Associated With Fatigue in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Fatigue is a Prevalent and Severe Symptom Associated with Uncertainty and Sense of Coherence in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Fatigue and radiotherapy: (A) experience in patients undergoing treatment

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