An investigation into the properties of the Brain Injury Fatigue Scale
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the properties of the Brain Injury Fatigue Scale
IRAS ID
298405
Contact name
Katherine Watson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
Fatigue has been found to be a common problem experienced by individuals with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and is a significant factor in post-injury disability (Juengst et al., 2012). There is a clear need for both patients and services to have the ability to measure an individuals’ experiences of fatigue using valid and reliable tools, in order to provide appropriate interventions to support people experiencing fatigue and to evaluate these interventions. The Brain Injury Fatigue Scale (BIFS) was developed by Quinn, Jones, Fokias and Moss (unpublished) as a tool to measure fatigue for individuals who have sustained an ABI. Although currently unpublished, the BIFS is currently used in clinical practice with individuals who have sustained an ABI.
This questionnaire-based study aims to explore the properties of the scale in two ways, firstly to identify the themes contained within the scale by examining the factor structure of the BIFS. This study also aims to assess relationship between overall reported fatigue (BIFS scores) and individual factors such as age, gender, and mood. Exploring clinical and demographic variables which may predict self-rated fatigue scores following an ABI could assist clinicians to identify the factors which may influence reported fatigue scores. To achieve this, the participants who have sustained an ABI and participants who have not had an ABI will be invited to complete the BIFS, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and answer demographic questions about their age and gender.This study will be completed alongside another related study, which also aims to provide evidence on the properties of the scale. This other project aims to investigate the factors which affect individual’s insight into their own fatigue. For this study, participants and to them will complete the same BIFS measure alongside several additional measures, in order to compare self-report and family/friends’ ratings of the individuals fatigue.
Lay summary of study results:
The exploratory factor analysis of the Brain Injury Fatigue Scale produced two factors. One factor, labelled 'general' fatigue explained the majority of the variance, with an additional factor '‘cognitive and emotional impacts of fatigue.
Additionally, positive correlations were found between fatigue and age, anxiety and depression. Within this, brain injury was shown to moderate the relationship between anxiety and fatigue. This means that anxiety predicted total fatigue reported for the participants with a brain injury/neurological condition, but not for the healthy control sample.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EE/0099
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion