Journal of Society of Indian Physiotherapists

Psychometric properties of Gujarati version of Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)

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Article Type : Original Article

Author Details: Srishti Sharma*,Megha Sheth

Volume : 3

Issue : 2

Online ISSN : 2582-0702

Print ISSN : 2456-7787

Article First Page : 34

Article End Page : 37

Abstract

Introduction: Fatigue is a complex symptom and difficult to study because of its multiple types and causes. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is frequently used for measuring fatigue and consists of a nine-item questionnaire. It has high internal consistency (0.81–0.94) and satisfactory test–retest reliability (ICC:0.82). For meaningful comparison to be carried out between various patient groups, it is necessary to investigate the psychometric properties of the FSS in the different population in their vernacular language. This study aimed to translate FSS into Gujarati language and determine its validity and reliability.
Participants: Eight experts, consisting of neurologists, physicians, and physiotherapists were included.15 subjects between 25-60 years, having conditions like parkinsonism (n=5), post-polio syndrome (n=10) having primary symptoms of fatigue were included.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional survey, translation of FSS was done into Gujarati as per guidelines of World health Organization. Face, content and concurrent validity were determined. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability was also examined across two raters. Level of significance was kept at 5%.
Results: Experts had experience of 8.56 + 2.39 years. Face and content validity was established by review of the Gujarati FSS by experts (n=8), with mutual consensus. Patients included nine females and six males, between 45.6 + 5.3 years. Concurrent validity was assessed using Pearson’s correlation, with the coefficient being 0.81(95% CI: 0.75 to 0.84).
Conclusion: Gujarati version of FSS is comparable with the original English instrument in terms of validity and reliability. It is psychometrically feasible and can be used in Gujarati population to assess fatigue in various clinical conditions.

Keywords: Fatigue severity scale, Translation, Validity, Reliability.

Doi No:-10.18231/j.jsip.2019.003