Screening and Assessment of Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Executive Summary and Road Map for Clinical Implementation

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) prevalence is reported as high as 90%. Cancer-related fatigue is multidimensional and associated with lower health-related quality of life. Effective screening and assessment are dependent upon use of valid, reliable, and clinically feasible measures. This Executive Summary of the Screening and Assessment of Cancer-related Fatigue Clinical Practice Guideline provides recommendations for best measures to screen and assess for CRF based on the quality and level of evidence, psychometric strength of the tools, and clinical utility. Methods: After a systematic review of the literature, studies evaluating CRF measurement tools were assessed for quality; data extraction included psychometrics and clinical utility. Measurement tools were categorized as either screens or assessments. Results: Four screens are recommended: European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Distress Thermometer, and the One-Item Fatigue Scale. Eight assessments are recommended: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue, Piper Fatigue Scale—Revised, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Cancer Fatigue Scale, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue Short Form and CAT, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20. Discussion: This Executive Summary is a synopsis of and road map for implementation of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Assessment of CRF. Review of the full Clinical Practice Guideline is recommended [10.1093/ptj/pzac120]. Additional research focused on responsiveness of instruments is needed in order to consider them for use as outcome measures. Screening and assessing CRF will result in opportunities to improve the quality of life of individuals with cancer.