Psychometric Evaluation of the Traditional Chinese Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory in Patients With Heart Failure

General fatigue is a multidimensional symptom involving physical, cognitive, emotional, and motivational aspects, and it is closely associated with reduced daily functioning and quality of life. In patients with heart failure, fatigue is particularly complex and may persist despite rest. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) assesses five dimensions of fatigue and has demonstrated good reliability and validity in its Taiwan Traditional Chinese version (MFI-TC) among healthy adults. However, its psychometric properties and clinical usefulness in patients with heart failure have not yet been systematically evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria: * \### Inclusion Criteria \*\*Hospitalized patients with heart failure:\*\* 1. Aged 20 years or older. 2. Diagnosed with heart failure by a physician and admitted to a general ward. 3. Normal cognitive function, defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥24, or meeting the education-adjusted cutoff criteria. 4. Able to read Chinese and understand the questionnaire content. 5. Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent. \*\*Community-dwelling patients with heart failure:\*\* 1. Aged 20 years or older. 2. Diagnosed with heart failure. 3. Normal cognitive function, defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥24, or meeting the education-adjusted cutoff criteria. 4. Able to read Chinese and understand the questionnaire content. 5. Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Hospitalized patients with heart failure: Presence of other major neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as dementia or severe depression. Clinical deterioration requiring transfer to an intensive care unit. Terminal-stage cancer. Community-dwelling patients with heart failure: Presence of other major neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as dementia or severe depression. A history of acute heart failure exacerbation within the past month, or hospitalization due to other medical conditions during the same period. Terminal-stage cancer.