Psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version of the fatigue 5-item measure (FM) among physiotherapy patients in Libya

Background: This cross-cultural validation study aimed to assess the psychometric properties and suitability of the Arabic version of the Fatigue Measure (FM) in the context of musculoskeletal patients in Libya.Methods: A total of 139 patients from diverse physiotherapy facilities participated in the study. The FM was administered to assess participants' perceived fatigue levels. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the FM's cross-cultural validity, including the assessment of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, Exploratory Factor Analysis, and the ROC curve analysis.Results: The FM demonstrated strong internal consistency and reliability in the Libyan context, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.87. Test-retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.92, Cronbach alpha = 0.95). The EFA confirmed the unidimensionality of this measure, indicating the stability of the FM's underlying dimensions in this cultural setting. The ROC curve analysis revealed significant results with the AUC value = 0.95 [95% CI 0.91-0.97], (p < 0.001), indicating excellent sensitivity and specificity.Conclusions: The findings support the cross-cultural validity of the FM among musculoskeletal patients in Libya, suggesting its suitability as an effective tool for assessing fatigue in this population. Its brevity and ease of use make it valuable for clinicians and researchers seeking to address fatigue-related issues in the context of musculoskeletal conditions in Libya. Further research could explore the FM's responsiveness to intervention and longitudinal changes in fatigue levels to enhance its utility in clinical practice. Overall, the FM holds promise as a reliable instrument for measuring fatigue in musculoskeletal patients in the Libyan cultural context.