title: Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the fatigue scale-adolescent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately assesses the level of fatigue among adolescent cancer survivors is crucial before any appropriate interventions to reduce their fatigue can be appropriately planned and evaluated. The study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents. In particular, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine its factorial structure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was employed. Adolescents (13- to 18-year-olds) who had survived cancer and attended medical follow-up at the outpatient clinic in Hong Kong were invited to participate. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content validity index was 0.92. There was a strong positive correlation between adolescents' levels of fatigue and depressive symptoms (r = 0.53) and a strong negative correlation between adolescents' levels of fatigue and quality of life (r = -0.58). The mean levels of fatigue of the survivors group was significantly lower than that of those still receiving treatment in hospital, but significantly higher than that of their healthy counterparts. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that there were 4 factors underlying the Chinese version of the Cancer Module.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the study add further evidence that the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents (12-item) can be used as a reliable and valid tool in assessing cancer-related fatigue among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents who have survived cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. eva19841226@yahoo.com.hk.
authors.forename: Ka Yan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. william3@hku.hk.
authors.forename: William H C
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. kathins@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ka Wai Katherine
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Room 115, New Clinical Building, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. sychiu3@yahoo.com.hk.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Room 115, New Clinical Building, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. gcfchan@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Chi-Fung Godfrey
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index