Validation of subjective measures of fatigue after elective operations.

OBJECTIVE

To find out if it was possible to evaluate postoperative fatigue by questionnaire.

DESIGN

Open study.

SETTING

University hospital.

SUBJECTS

23 patients about to undergo elective general surgical operations.

INTERVENTIONS

A questionnaire was filled in before, and 2-46 days after, operation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Six measures of fatigue were derived from the questionnaire and validated objectively with changes in body weight, exercise tolerance (n = 10), or grip strength (n = 21).

RESULTS

The six measures all showed a significant increase after operation. The changes in fatigue correlated well, but there were differences in sensitivity to changes in perceived weakness compared with perceived tiredness. Each measure correlated significantly with either body weight, exercise tolerance or grip strength.

CONCLUSION

Questionnaires can provide reliable results in the assessment of postoperative fatigue.