Assessment of fatigue in postpartum women using patient-reported outcome
measures: a systematic review utilising Consensus Based Standards for
the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines
Abstract
Background Fatigue is a burden for a substantial proportion of women in
the postpartum period. A wide array of patient-reported outcome measures
(PROMs) are used for assessment, which makes comparison of data
difficult. Objective To identify the best PROM for postpartum fatigue
using Consensus Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement
Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Search strategy We searched Web of
Science, Embase, PubMed and CINAHL, with no date limiters, in July 2020
for validated PROMs used to assess fatigue in the postpartum period.
Selection criteria Studies evaluating at least one author-defined domain
of postpartum fatigue and one psychometric measurement property of a
PROM. Data collection and analysis An overall rating was assigned based
upon COSMIN criteria and the quality of evidence was assessed using
Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation
(GRADE). Main results We identified 49 validation studies using 18 PROMs
in 21 209 women that evaluated postpartum fatigue. All three fatigue
domains (Physical, Mental, Interference) were assessed by four PROMs:
Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Checklist
Individual Strength (CIS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The FAS,
which is freely available online, was the only PROM to demonstrate
adequate content validity and at least a low level evidence of
sufficient internal consistency, resulting in a Class A recommendation.
Conclusion The FAS is the best available PROM to assess postpartum
fatigue. However, it fails to assess important areas of postpartum
recovery. Future studies should aim to develop a more specific PROM for
postpartum fatigue.