Validation of subjective measures of fatigue after elective operations.
OBJECTIVE
To find out if it was possible to evaluate postoperative fatigue by questionnaire.


METHODS
Open study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
23 patients about to undergo elective general surgical operations.


METHODS
A questionnaire was filled in before, and 2-46 days after, operation.


METHODS
Six measures of fatigue were derived from the questionnaire and validated objectively with changes in body weight, exercise tolerance (n = 10), or grip strength (n = 21).


RESULTS
The six measures all showed a significant increase after operation. The changes in fatigue correlated well, but there were differences in sensitivity to changes in perceived weakness compared with perceived tiredness. Each measure correlated significantly with either body weight, exercise tolerance or grip strength.


CONCLUSIONS
Questionnaires can provide reliable results in the assessment of postoperative fatigue.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
L S
LS
Buxton
F A
FA
Frizelle
B R
BR
Parry
R A
RA
Pettigrew
W G
WG
Hopkins
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012803:Sick Role