Developing a Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 7-12 for Children and Parents

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> This study was planned in an attempt to develop scales for the assessment of fatigue in pediatriconcology patients aged 7-12 as well as for their parents. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: In collecting the study data,we used the Child and Parent Information Form, Visual Fatigue Scale, Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue inPediatric Oncology Patients Aged 7-12 and the Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology PatientsAged 7-12 for Parents. We also used Pearson correlation analysis, the Cronbach Alpha coefficient, Factor Analysisand ROC Analysis for the study data. <br/><b>Results</b>: In this study, the total Cronbach alpha value of the parent formwas 0.95, the total factor load was 0.52-0.95 and the total variance being explained was 85.7%. The cutoff pointof the parent form was 82 points. The total Cronbach alpha value of the child form was 0.98, the total factorload was 0.71-0.94 and the total variance being explained was 84.7%. The cutoff point of the child form was75 points. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: This study suggests that our scales for the assessment of fatigue in pediatric oncologypatients aged 7-12 and their parents are valid and reliable instruments.