Measurement properties of the Chinese version of the Mental Fatigue Scale for patients with traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To translate the Mental Fatigue Scale into a Chinese version (CMFS), to develop a more valid and precise CMFS by using an item response theory-based model, and to examine the reliability and validity of the CMFS.

Methods: One hundred and fifty adults having traumatic brain injury for at least 6 months were included. Each participant completed a battery of questionnaires (i.e. the Chinese version of the Chalder Fatigue Scale [ChCFS], Chinese version of the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale [CUDOS-Chinese], and CMFS). Two-parameter graded response models were used to evaluate the location and discrimination performance of the CMFS. The reliability and validity of the CMFS were also evaluated.

Results: One item investigating ‘increased sleep at night’ (item 14) was removed because it had a low discrimination value (0.86) and provided less information. The internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the 13-item CMFS were high (0.92 and 0.96, respectively). The CMFS score was positively correlated with the ChCFS and the CUDOS-Chinese scores (r = 0.77 and 0.80, respectively).

Conclusion: The CMFS provides reliable and valid information on mental fatigue for future research and clinical practice involving patients with traumatic brain injury.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental fatigue
• traumatic brain injury
• item response theory
• validation

Conflicts of Interest

All authors declare no potential conflicts of interest regarding the authorship and publication of this study, and have no financial disclosures to report

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant to H.Y. Chiu [grant number MOST 103-2314-B-038-068-MY2] by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.