These two scales show similar attributes with reasonably good internal consistency and responsiveness .
Either the Fatigue Scale or PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale can be incorporated into clinical research .
CONTEXT Despite the recognized distressing symptom of fatigue in children with cancer , little information is available to assist in the selection of an instrument to be used to measure fatigue .
OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to 1 ) describe the instruments that have been used to measure cancer-related fatigue in children and adolescents and 2 ) summarize the psychometric properties of the most commonly used instruments used to measure fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer .
The measurement of symptoms in young children with cancer: the validation of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale in children aged 7-12.
Few studies have attempted to describe the experience of symptoms in young children with cancer . This is due , in part , to the lack of vali date d symptom assessment scales for this patient population . The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a revised Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale ( MSAS ) in patients aged 7 - 12 as an instrument for the assessment of symptoms in young children with cancer . The MSAS ( 7 - 12 ) was administered to 149 children ( in patients and out patients ) who were undergoing treatment at either the Royal Marsden NHS Trust , London , United Kingdom or The Children 's Hospital at Westmead , Sydney , Australia . Validity was evaluated by comparison with the medical record , parental report , and concurrent assessment on visual analogue scales for selected symptoms . The data provide evidence of the reliability and validity of MSAS ( 7 - 12 ) and demonstrate that children with cancer as young as 7 years can report clinical ly relevant and consistent information about their symptom experience . Young children with cancer experience multiple symptoms . Approximately one-third had experienced lethargy and /or pain and /or insomnia during the 48 hours prior to the completion of MSAS ( 7 - 12 ) . The completion rate for MSAS ( 7 - 12 ) was high and the majority of children completed the instrument in a short period of time and with little difficulty . The instrument appears to be age appropriate and may be helpful to older children unable to independently complete MSAS ( 10 - 18 ) . Systematic symptom assessment may be useful in future epidemiological studies of symptoms and in cancer chemotherapy drug trials
These two scales show similar attributes with reasonably good internal consistency and responsiveness .
Either the Fatigue Scale or PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale can be incorporated into clinical research .
CONTEXT Despite the recognized distressing symptom of fatigue in children with cancer , little information is available to assist in the selection of an instrument to be used to measure fatigue .
OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to 1 ) describe the instruments that have been used to measure cancer-related fatigue in children and adolescents and 2 ) summarize the psychometric properties of the most commonly used instruments used to measure fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer .