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Table 2 Key methods to assess fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

From: The extra-articular impacts of rheumatoid arthritis: moving towards holistic care

Measure

Population

Content

Completion time (minutes)

Scoring time (minutes)

Bristol RA

Fatigue Multi-Dimensional

Questionnaire (BRAF MDQ) [125]

Adults with RA

20 items cover domains of physical fatigue, living with fatigue, cognitive fatigue, and emotional fatigue.

5

3

Bristol RA

Fatigue Numerical Rating

Scales (BRAF NRS) For Severity,

Effect, And Coping [125]

Adults with RA

3 single-item numeric rating scales on fatigue severity, effect on patients’ lives, and coping with fatigue.

1

1

Fatigue Visual Analogue Scale [89]

Any adult population

Usually one horizontal line, measuring 10 cm, anchored with verbal descriptors such as “not at all tired” and “very tired”.

< 1

< 1

Functional Assessment Chronic

Illness Therapy (Fatigue) (FACIT-F) [126]

Adults with chronic illness

13 items covering physical fatigue, functional fatigue, emotional fatigue, and social consequences of fatigue.

4

4

Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Fatigue [127]

Adults with RA

15 items covering 4 dimensions of fatigue: severity, distress, interference in activities of daily living, and frequency and change during past week.

8

5

Short-Form 36 Vitality [124]

Any adult population

A 4-item scale covering energy and fatigue.

1

1