Measuring fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis - which questionnaire should be used? A Plain Language Summary of Publication.

Abstract

What is this summary about?: This summary explains the findings of a recent study that compared different questionnaires used by doctors to measure levels of fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to find out which questionnaire doctors should use to measure fatigue in people with MS in the future. Fatigue, which can be described as the overwhelming feeling of tiredness or exhaustion, is a very common symptom of MS. For the majority of people with MS, fatigue is one of the worst symptoms of MS, so it is essential that doctors can measure it accurately. Currently, people with MS are asked to complete questionnaires so that their care team can see the effect of fatigue on their day-to-day lives. There are many questionnaires that are used to measure fatigue in people with MS. It would be valuable to come to an agreement, based on evidence from research like this study, on which questionnaire is the most appropriate for measuring fatigue in both research and healthcare settings. This study compared a questionnaire called the PROMIS^® Fatigue (MS) 8a, referred to throughout this summary as the PROMIS^® MS Fatigue Short Form, with two of the most commonly used questionnaires: the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). The questionnaires were compared to see which one should be recommended to doctors for measuring fatigue in people with MS.

What are the key takeaways?: It was found that while all three questionnaires were good, the PROMIS^® MS Fatigue Short Form questionnaire was better than the other two questionnaires at showing differences in levels of fatigue between people with MS. The PROMIS^® MS Fatigue Short Form was also found to be better than the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at showing changes in the person with MS's level of fatigue. The PROMIS^® MS Fatigue Short Form questionnaire may help people with MS to better communicate challenges with their fatigue to their doctors.

What was the main conclusion reported by the researchers?: The study suggests that the PROMIS^® MS Fatigue Short Form questionnaire is a helpful tool for doctors and people with MS to measure fatigue.