Fatigue in breast cancer patients: psychometric evaluation of the fatigue questionnaire EORTC QLQ-FA13.

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is a frequent symptom in breast cancer patients and breast cancer survivors. The aims of this study were to test a newly developed fatigue questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-FA13) and to detect prognostic factors of fatigue.

METHODS

A total of 308 breast cancer patients (response rate: 91 %) were tested with the fatigue questionnaire EORTC QLQ-FA13 and the fatigue scale of the EORTC QLQ-C30. In addition, several other questionnaires were also adopted.

RESULTS

The youngest age group of breast cancer patients was most strongly affected by fatigue. The psychometric analysis of the EORTC QLQ-FA13 supported a three-dimensional structure (physical, emotional, and cognitive fatigue). The reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94) was very good. Clinical factors such as time since diagnosis and received therapy did not significantly predict the level of fatigue.

CONCLUSION

Fatigue remains a severe problem in breast cancer patients, especially in younger women. Researchers or clinicians who want to measure fatigue have the choice between the short 3-item fatigue scale of the EORTC QLQ-C30, stressing the physical aspect of fatigue, and the long 13-item EORTC QLQ-FA13 scale with slightly better psychometric properties, including cognitive and emotional aspects of fatigue.