Development of a New Patient-Reported Outcome to Measure Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Jorquera-Ruzzi, Miguel Angel (Universitat de Barcelona)
Ramo-Tello, Cristina (Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (Madrid))
Dura Mata, María José (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol)
Casas, Irma (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	Background: Fatigue is a multidimensional and subjective experience, and it is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting up to 80% of patients and acting as a major driver of work disability. Despite its clinical significance, existing assessment tools often lack conceptual clarity or remain too lengthy for routine clinical use. Objective: To develop and evaluate a new patient-reported outcome instrument designed to assess multidimensional fatigue domains in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) for use in clinical practice. Methods: This study was carried out in three research stages. Stage 1 (Concept Elicitation) involved qualitative interviews (n = 19) to identify core fatigue domains based on patient experience. Stage 2 (Cognitive Interviews) consisted of interviews with 50 patients to ensure the relevance and clarity of the items. Stage 3 (Exploratory Factor Analysis) and internal consistency testing (Cronbach's alpha) were performed on the same sample of 50 patients to examine the preliminary factor structure and reliability. Results: Concept elicitation identified lack of energy and persistent exhaustion as core symptoms. The resulting 14-item instrument covers three subdomains: Psychosocial, Physical, and Cognitive. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor solution explaining 75% of the total variance (Factor 1: 28%; Factor 2: 27%; Factor 3: 20%). Internal consistency was high across all factors: Psychosocial (α = 0. 923), Physical (α = 0. 895), and Cognitive (α = 0. 844). Conclusions: This new instrument is a conceptually robust tool that captures the interconnected nature of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS). These initial findings support its internal structure and conceptual foundation, providing a practical tool for symptom monitoring in neurological consultations.
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Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Nursing Reports, Vol. 16, Num. 3 (March 2026) , p. 93, ISSN 2039-4403

DOI: 10.3390/nursrep16030093

19 p, 667.7 KB

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