S. Jäghult [1 ,2], K. Pihl Lesnovska [3], M. Artom [4], W. Czuber-Dochan [4]

Affiliates

[1] Karolinska Institutet Danderyd Hospital, [2] GHP Stockholm Gastro Center AB, [3] Linköping University Hospital, [4] King´s College

Abstract

Background
Fatigue is a common symptom and of great concern in patients with IBD, and may decrease health-related quality of life and limit activities. Nevertheless, fatigue is often overlooked by physicians and nurses since it is difficult to measure and manage. As of yet, there has been limited evidence of how to support and manage IBD patients with fatigue. Dr. Wladyslawa Czuber-Dochan et al. from UK has developed a disease-specific questionnaire, the Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Fatigue Scale (IBD-F), measuring occurrence of fatigue, severity, duration and impact on the individual´s life. There is a need to translate and validate the instrument to other countries in order to use it in the clinical work.

Aim
To translate the IBD-F to Swedish and to measure validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the instrument.

Method
The study contained of three phases. In the first phase the English original IBD-F was translated into Swedish according to the method forward and back translation. In the next phase, the face and content validity was tested by making cognitive interviews with 20 patients with IBD. In the last phase, the stability over time was tested by letting 60 patients fill in the IBD-F at two occasions with 2-4 weeks interval.

Results
The forward and back translation was made in collaboration with the English team. In phase two, 20 Swedish patients participated (13 women). Mean age was 41 years and the majority were married or living with partner (n=13). In the first part of the IBD-F, that measures severity, frequency, and duration, all participants (n=20) stated that the questions were relevant, easy to understand, and easy to fill in. Part two measures the impact of fatigue on daily life and here as well, all participants (n=20) stated that the questions were relevant, easy to fill in, and reflected over their own experience. The participants stated that it took them approximately 5-15 minutes to fill in the IBD-F.

Summary
The Swedish version of the IBD-F has good validity. Analysis is now ongoing to test the reliability and is in the last phase.