International development of the Unidimensional Fatigue Impact Scale (U-FIS).
OBJECTIVE
The 22-item Unidimensional Fatigue Impact Scale (U-FIS) provides an index of the impact of fatigue on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective is to produce eight new language versions of the U-FIS: Canadian-English, Canadian-French, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and US-English.


METHODS
The U-FIS was translated via two translation panels. Cognitive debriefing interviews conducted with patients in each country assessed face and content validity. Scaling and psychometric properties were assessed via survey data with patients in each country completing the U-FIS, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and demographic questions.


RESULTS
Cognitive debriefing interviews demonstrated U-FIS acceptability. Analysis of postal survey data showed all new language versions to be unidimensional. Reliability was high, with test-retest correlations and internal-consistency coefficients exceeding 0.85. Initial evidence of validity was provided by moderate to high correlations with NHP scales. The U-FIS was able to discriminate between groups based on employment status, perceived MS severity, and general health.


CONCLUSIONS
The U-FIS is a practical new measure of the impact of fatigue. It was successfully adapted into eight new languages to broaden availability for researchers. Psychometric analyses indicated that the new language versions were unidimensional and reproducible with promising construct validity.
Doward
Lynda C
LC
Galen Research, Manchester, UK. ldoward@galen-research.com
Meads
David M
DM
Fisk
John
J
Twiss
James
J
Hagell
Peter
P
Oprandi
Nadia C
NC
Grand'Maison
François
F
Bhan
Virender
V
Arbizu
Txomin
T
Kohlmann
Thomas
T
Brassat
David
D
Eckert
Benjamin J
BJ
McKenna
Stephen P
SP
D000328:Adult; D005060:Europe; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D009656:North America; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating; D016896:Treatment Outcome