PURPOSE. To validate the nursing diagnosis fatigue by providing evidence to identify, confirm, and consolidate the defining characteristics.
METHODS. The Revised Piper Fatigue Scale and the Schwartz Measurement of Fatigue scales were used to collect data from four groups of healthy women (N = 182). Data were analyzed by maximum-likelihood factor analysis with varimax rotation, and major and minor defining characteristics were identified and clustered.
FINDINGS. The identified defining characteristics tended to group into the dimensions identified in prior fatigue studies. Although the majority of the NANDA defining characteristics were validated, differences were found.
CONCLUSIONS. atigue is a multidimensional construct. Replication of the study with a variety of samples from different geographic locations and a variety of patient populations will further cross-validate the defining characteristics of fatigue.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Fatigue is a commonly experienced phenomenon in both health and illness. As the knowledge base about fatigue builds, so will the accuracy of nursing assessments and the effectiveness of nursing interventions.
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