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Abstract
Background: A large number of questionnaires are used to evaluate fatigue in neurological rehabilitation. The clinician or researcher measuring fatigue has to consider that each questionnaire is characterized by its own underlying concept, measurement properties, and feasibility for use in practice. A systematic review of measurement properties, which critically appraise and compares the content and measurement properties of all questionnaires measuring fatigue, is lacking. However, such a review may support clinicians in selecting a questionnaire to evaluate fatigue in patients with neurological disorders. Objective: To systematically search and critically appraise studies on measurement properties of self-report questionnaires that evaluates fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson s disease (PD) and stroke. Methods: A search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus. We combined a search filter to identify studies on measurement properties with both mesh and text words for fatigue, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson s disease and stroke. References of relevant articles were tracked. Studies on the development or evaluation of measurement properties of fatigue questionnaires used in patients with MS, PD or stroke, were included. The COSMIN checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. We used a standardized data collection form to extract data. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, assessment of methodological quality and data collection. Preliminary results: We included 26 studies (19 MS, 4 PD, 3 stroke) that evaluated 24 different fatigue questionnaires. The methodological quality and reporting on measurement properties between studies varied widely. Studies assessed measurement properties such as reliability and validity, however, details about the aspects of fatigue assessed and the feasibility of the questionnaire were often not reported. Preliminary conclusions: Questionnaires show adequatemeasurement properties, however, results are mainly based on fair quality studies. The concept of fatigue seems to be an important consideration in selecting a questionnaire.