Assessment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: methodological quality of adapted original versions available in Brazil of self-report instruments

Abstract

Assessment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis is a difficult task and its instruments have no uniformity regarding the methodological evaluation parameters to ensure validity and reliability of its inferences. The objective of this study was to analyze the methodological quality of development, cross-cultural adaptation to Portuguese language (Brazil), and psychometric properties of self-report instruments that assess fatigue in multiple sclerosis and are available in Brazil. A search was conducted in the electronic databases LILACS, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SciELO and SPORTDiscus with analysis of the selected instruments by consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments. It was included 10 articles and presented the instruments Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Cognitive and Physical Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Scale (CPF-MS), Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS), Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS), and their adapted versions in Brazil. Most instruments present a multidimensional structure with documented cross-cultural adaptation in Brazil and emphasize the physical domain and adequate reliability. There is difficulty in identifying a self-report instrument to adequately assess fatigue in multiple sclerosis and that is an example of methodological and psychometric standards in their design and management.