groups, 113 went on to be diagnosed with CFS (empiric/Reeves definition), 84
of these came from the 292 who were CFS-like - see Table 2 at:
http://www.pophealthmetrics.com/content/pdf/1478-7954-5-5.pdf . Tom]
Further validation of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in a US adult
population sample
Jin-Mann S Lin , Dana J Brimmer , Elizabeth M Maloney , Ernestina Nyarko ,
Rhonda BeLue and William C Reeves
Population Health Metrics 2009, 7:18
doi:10.1186/1478-7954-7-18
Published: 15 December 2009
Abstract (provisional)
Background
The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) was developed in 1995. Since
then, it has been widely used in cancer research and cancer-related
illnesses but has never been validated in fatiguing illnesses or in a large
US population-selected sample. In this study, we sought to examine the
reliability and validity of the MFI-20 in the population of the state of
Georgia, USA. Further, we assessed whether the MFI-20 could serve as a
complementary diagnostic tool in chronically fatigued and unwell
populations.
Methods
The data derive from a cross-sectional population-based study investigating
the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Georgia. The study
sample was comprised of three diagnostic groups: CFS-like (292), chronically
unwell (269), and well (222). Participants completed the MFI-20 along with
several other measures of psychosocial functioning, including the Medical
Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale
(SDS), and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We assessed
the five MFI-20 subscales using several criteria: inter-item correlations,
corrected item-total correlations, internal consistency reliability
(Cronbach's alpha coefficients), construct validity, discriminant
(known-group) validity, floor/ceiling effects, and convergent validity
through correlations with the SF-36, SDS, and STAI instruments.
Results
Averaged inter-item correlations ranged from 0.38 to 0.61, indicating no
item redundancy. Corrected item-total correlations for all MFI-20 subscales
were greater than 0.30, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients achieved an
acceptable level of 0.70. No significant floor/ceiling effect was observed.
Factor analysis demonstrated factorial complexity. The MFI-20 also
distinguished clearly between three diagnostic groups on all subscales.
Furthermore, correlations with depression (SDS), anxiety (STAI), and
functional impairment (SF-36) demonstrated strong convergent validity.
Conclusions
This study provides support for the MFI-20 as a valuable tool when used in
chronically unwell and well populations. It also suggests that the MFI-20
could serve as a complementary diagnostic tool in fatiguing illnesses, such
as CFS.
Full free text at:
http://www.pophealthmetrics.com/content/pdf/1478-7954-7-18.pdf
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