Screening Properties of the Diagnostic Criteria for Cancer-Related Fatigue
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Background: Within the theoretical framework of the ICD diagnostic criteria of cancer-related fatigue, we aim to investigate how those criteria can be used for screening purposes. Methods: Fatigue was assessed in a mixed sample of 1,225 cancer patients during their stay in a rehabilitation clinic using four different fatigue measures and the diagnostic criteria (Criterion A; DC-A). Psychometric evaluations (e.g., acceptance, reliability, validity, item analyses) were conducted for the sum score and for all items of the diagnostic criteria. Results: A total of 678 (57.1%) patients tested positive according to the DC-A. The sum score of the DC-A had good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87) and validity, corresponded closely with other fatigue scales, and, with less than 1% missing values, showed a high degree of patients’ acceptance. The highest accuracy (approx. 0.80) and Youden indices (>0.55) were found for the items “Difficulties completing daily tasks” (A9), “Struggle to overcome inactivity” (A7), “Decreased motivation or interests” (A4), and “Unrefreshing sleep” (A6). Conclusion: The DC-A proved to be a well-accepted, easy to use, and reliable tool for measuring the severity of fatigue. In this paper, we make suggestions for the use of single items of the DC-A as a short and economical screening tool.
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The basis for screening and intervention is the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline on fatigue.
“The basis for screening and intervention is the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline on fatigue [38–42].”
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- Authors
- Kuhnt, S., Friedrich, M., Schulte, T., Cella, D., & Hinz, A.
- Affiliations
- Leipzig University (DE)
- Klinik Bad Oexen (DE)
- Northwestern University (US)
- Venue
- Oncology Research and Treatment
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2019
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 440-447
- ISSN
- 2296-5262 (ISSN-L)
- 2296-5270
- OpenAlex
- W2963783460
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 0.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- ul.qucosa.de
- Locations
- Oncology Research and Treatment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Qucosa (Saxon State and University Library Dresden) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Deutsche Krebshilfe
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Keywords
- cancer-related fatigue, diagnostic criteria, screening tool, psychometric properties, cancer rehabilitation, unrefreshing sleep
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Fatigue, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Rehabilitation Centers, Reproducibility of Results, Young Adult
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