Table 1 Research instruments used in the study
Instrument | Characteristics | Recommended method of application |
|---|---|---|
Social and demographic questionnaire | This semi-structured interview constituted of questions about the participant’s social and demographic data, and was prepared by the research team. | Non-private instrument from the psychologist |
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS - AD) | It evaluates the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms on a Likert-type scale with 14 items [7 for HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A) and 7 for HADS-Depression (HADS-D)]. Each item is scored with values from zero to three, constituting a maximum score of 21 points for each scale. The cut-off point for the presence of symptoms is a score of ≥ 9 value. | Non-private instrument from the psychologist |
Scale of Perceived Social Support (SPSS) | This instrument evaluates the social support perceived by the individual. It comprises 29 items with answers rated from 1 to 4 to evaluate two dimensions of perceived social support, practical and emotional. | Non-private instrument from the psychologist |
Fatigue Pictogram | This illustrated instrument evaluates fatigue. It presents two sets of figures that evaluate the intensity and impact of fatigue in regular activities. Figures are presented on an ordinal scale constituted by two questions with five graduated and captioned illustrations that evaluate the intensity and impact of fatigue. This tool does not have a cut-off point for the diagnosis or classification of intensity of fatigue. | Non-private instrument from the psychologist |
Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory (LSSI) | This self-report instrument identifies the presence of stress symptoms, type of existing symptoms (somatic or psychological predominance), and stage of stress (alarm, resistance, near-exhaustion, and exhaustion). | Private instrument from the psychologist |
Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36) | This summarised version of the Medical Outcomes Trust questionnaire evaluates several quality of life domains by attributing scores (0–100), with scores closer to zero indicating worse quality of life and those closer to one hundred indicating better quality of life. | Non-private instrument from the psychologist |