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Cancer-related fatigue in Italian cancer patients: validation of the Italian version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)

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Abstract

Purpose

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients (CPs). The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) is a reliable instrument to assess CRF in CPs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the BFI (BFI-I).

Methods

The BFI-I was developed by using the forward–backward translation approach. The psychometric properties of the BFI-I were assessed in terms of acceptability, internal consistency, and validity. Outpatient CPs filled in BFI-I along with the Medical Outcome Study Quality of Life Short Form 36 (SF36). Demographic and health data were collected.

Results

The BFI-I had an overall Cronbach alpha for the nine items of 0.94. The inter-item mean correlation was 0.64, and coefficients ranged from 0.47 to 0.81 for the nine items. The results of the factor analysis suggested a 1-factor solution explaining 68 % of the variance, supporting the hypothesis of unidimensionality of the BFI-I. The BFI-I score was compared to SF36 subscales score to evaluate concurrent validity. An expected inverse correlation between the BFI-I and the vitality subscale of the SF36 was observed (r = −0.67, 95 % confidence interval −0.73 to −0.59). The correlation with the other subscales of the SF36 ranged between −0.56 and −0.13. Discriminant validity analysis showed the BFI-I mean score significantly increased with increasing Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group values (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

BFI-I is a clinical instrument with satisfactory psychometric properties to assess CRF in Italian CPs.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the Supportive Care in Cancer journal to review their data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.O. Regional Palliative Care Network, IRCCS A.O.U. San Martino–IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Gianluca Catania, Simona Ottonelli & Massimo Costantini

  2. Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Carol Bell

  3. Hematology Unit, Ospedale C. Massaia, Asti, Italy

    Monia Marchetti

  4. Clinical Trials Unit, National Cancer Institute, Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy

    Jane Bryce

  5. Hematology Unit, Istituto Fiorentino di Cura e Assistenza (IFCA), Florence, Italy

    Alberto Grossi

Authors
  1. Gianluca Catania
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  2. Carol Bell
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  3. Simona Ottonelli
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  4. Monia Marchetti
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  5. Jane Bryce
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  6. Alberto Grossi
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  7. Massimo Costantini
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Correspondence to Gianluca Catania.

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Catania, G., Bell, C., Ottonelli, S. et al. Cancer-related fatigue in Italian cancer patients: validation of the Italian version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). Support Care Cancer 21, 413–419 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1539-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1539-z

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