title: Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale in traumatic brain injury: an NIDRR Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-seven individuals with TBI admitted for inpatient rehabilitation, enrolled into the TBI Model Systems national database, and followed up at either the first or second year postinjury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial analysis, using items 1 to 14, which are based on a 10-point rating scale, found that only 1 item ("walking") misfit the overall construct of fatigue in this TBI population. However, this 10-point rating scale was found to have disordered thresholds. When ratings were collapsed into 4 response categories, all MAF items used to calculate the Global Fatigue Index formed a unidimensional scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings generally support the unidimensionality of the MAF when used in a TBI population but call into question the use of a 10-point rating scale for items 1 to 14. Further study is needed to investigate the use of a 4-category rating scale across all items and the fit of the "walking" item for a measure of fatigue among individuals with TBI.
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation Research Center, West Orange, NJ 07042, USA. alequerica@kesslerfoundation.org
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lequerica
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bushnik
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kolakowsky-Hayner
authors.forename: Flora M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Marcel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dijkers
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cantor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult