Validation of Persian Version of Comprehensive Fatigue Assessment Battery for Multiple Sclerosis (CFAB-MS)

Background and Fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Available fatigue measurement tools evaluate severity or impact of fatigue and none of them can be used to guide therapists on planning fatigue management interventions. Comprehensive Fatigue Assessment Battery for Multiple Sclerosis (CFAB-MS), in addition to assessment of the fatigue, evaluates factors related to fatigue, including sleep, pain, mobility, stress, anxiety, mood and fatigue management skills. The aim of this study was to translate the tool into Persian, adapt it culturally and establish validity of this measure in people with MS in Iran. After a forward-backward translation using the International Quality of Life Assessment process, the Persian-CFAB-MS was administered to 60 people with MS. The content validity and face validity of the tool was assessed by 10 therapists. Construct validity was assessed by measuring the associations between score of the Persian-CFAB-MS and Modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and WALK-12. Data was then analyzed using SPSS (version 20). From the view of 10 therapists who were experts in MS, all items of the Persian-CFAB-MS were understandable and culturally acceptable to Iranians. As hypothesized the scores were significantly correlated with MFIS, HADS, PSQI, SF-MPQ and WALK-12 (ranging from 0.470 to 0.863, P<0.001), and showed satisfactory to excellent validity. The results illustrated evidence to support validity of the Persian-CFAB-MS in studying the reasons for fatigue in patients with MS.