Comparing Self-Report Fatigue Assessment Tools for Adults with Cerebral Palsy in a Danish Context.

PURPOSE: Many youth and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) experience high levels of fatigue. This study aimed to compare three fatigue self-report questionnaires to guide clinicians. METHOD: Thirty youth and adults (age range 17-64) with CP were assessed with Danish versions of the Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment questionnaire, the Modified Mental Fatigue Scale, and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Psychometric properties were investigated. Rank order and classification models were compared across questionnaires. RESULTS: The Reduced Motivation and Physical Fatigue subscales of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory showed inadequate internal consistency. Participants were frequently ranked differently with the questionnaires. There were issues related to the conceptualization of physical fatigue. CONCLUSION: The choice of assessment tool should be based on assessment purpose as the questionnaires assess different aspects of fatigue severity, impact, and management. Also, test selection can have important implications on the conclusions that are made about fatigue type and severity.

Psychometric properties of the Danish version of the Caregiver Burden Scale: Investigating predictors and severity of burden after stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate (i) psychometric properties of the Danish version of the Caregiver Burden Scale, (ii) predictors of burden in caregivers of persons with stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury, and (iii) severity of caregiver burden, and compare level of severity of burden in caregivers of persons with stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Pooled sample of 122 caregivers. METHODS: Psychometric properties including internal consistency, floor and ceiling effects, inter-item and item-total correlation were investigated using the Caregiver Burden Scale. Severity of burden was compared using Fisher's exact test and ANOVA, and predictors of burden were investigated using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: The total burden score exhibited good internal consistency (α = 0.93), with no floor or ceiling effects. Longer time as a caregiver was a significant predictor of higher total score. The majority (52.2%) reported a low level of caregiver burden (below cut-off of 2.00). Mean scores on the Caregiver Burden Scale were not significantly different among caregivers across diagnostic groups. Differences were found when comparing spinal cord injury caregivers with brain injury caregivers (traumatic brain injury and stroke, collectively), χ2(2) = 6.38, p = 0.04, as spinal cord injury caregivers were more likely to report low levels of burden. CONCLUSION: Good psychometric properties were reported, and most caregivers reported a low level of burden, and longer time as a caregiver was associated with higher burden. Consequently, the Caregiver Burden Scale is a valid measure to use when measuring burden in caregivers of stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury patients.