Translation and validation of the Cancer-Related Fatigue Scale in Greek in a sample of patients with advanced prostate cancer

Abstract

Objective: To translate and validate the Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) Scale in the Greek language.Design: A cross-sectional descriptive design was usedin order to translate and validate the CRF Scale inGreek. Factor analyses were performed to understandthe psychometric properties of the scale and toestablish construct, criterion and convergent validity.Setting: Outpatients’oncology clinics of two publichospitals in Cyprus.Participants: 148 patients with advanced prostatecancer undergoing chemotherapy.Results: The Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS) had goodstability (test–retest reliability r=0.79, p<0.001) andgood internal consistency (Cronbach’sαcoefficient forall 15 items α=0.916). Furthermore, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy (KMO value) wasfound to be 0.743 and considered to be satisfactory(>0.5). The correlations between the CFS physical scale(CFS-FS scale) and the European Organization forResearch and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30physical subscales were found to be significant(r=−0.715). The same occurred between CFS cognitiveand EORTC cognitive subscale (r=−0.579). Overall, thecriterion validity was verified. The same occurs for theconvergent validity of the CFS since all correlationswith the Global Health Status (q29–q30) were found tobe significant.Conclusions: This is the first validation study of theCRF Scale in Greek and warrant of its use in theassessment of prostate cancer patient’s related fatigue.However, further testing and validation is needed in theearly stages of the disease and in patients in laterchemotherapy cycles.