Validation of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Fatigue (FACIT‐F) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 34: 1328–1336 Summary Background Many patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) complain of significant fatigue. To date, no instrument to measure fatigue has been validated in a US inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population. Aim To determine the reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Fatigue (FACIT‐F) scale in IBD. Methods A total of 209 patients with IBD completed the 13 items of the FACIT‐F, alongside laboratory testing and disease activity assessment. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach’s alpha; test–retest reliability by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); validity by the correlation of the FACIT‐F score with C‐reactive protein (CRP) erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haematocrit (HCT) and disease activity as measured by the Harvey‐Bradshaw Index (HBI; CD) and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI; UC). Results The mean ± SD FACIT‐F score was 38.9 ± 11.0 overall (CD 38.6 ± 11.3; UC 39.4 ± 10.6). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94. The ICC for first and repeat FACIT‐F scores assessed within 180 days without change in disease state was 0.81 (CD 0.78; UC 0.87). FACIT‐F scores were lower in patients with active symptoms (CD 4.6 points, 95% CI 2.4–6.9, P