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Original Article

The Assessment of Fatigue in Children With Chronic Pain

A Review of Existing Measures

Published Online:January 01, 2015https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000208

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the options that are available for assessing fatigue in children and adolescents with chronic pain problems, analyze the psychometric properties of all the instruments and provide health professionals with key information on which to base decisions about their use. A literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, and Scopus databases and the Cochrane Library between 1934 and January 2013 in order to identify all the studies that have evaluated fatigue in these populations. A total of 936 articles were retrieved, of which 24 were relevant. Of these 10 fatigue-related questionnaires were subject to specific content analysis. Only five of them evaluated fatigue in children with chronic pain, and just two had made a specific analysis of their psychometric characteristics. Most measures have been developed with a multidimensional approach of fatigue in mind. Psychometric information is missing for many questionnaires. On the basis of evidence-based assessment (EBA) criteria none of the questionnaires retrieved can be considered to be well-established measures that can be used in children with chronic pain.

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