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. 2020 Mar 3;2020(3):CD012681. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012681.pub2

Khan 2014.

Methods Study design: cross‐sectional study
Instrument used to assess fatigue: Brief Fatigue Inventory
Validated questionnaire: yes
Cut‐off score or criterion for severe fatigue: mean score > 7a
Time points at which outcome data were collected: NA, cross‐sectional study
Inclusion criteria: treatment on institutional protocol, at least 5 years from the time of ALL diagnosis, at least 1 year from completion of all cancer therapy, English as a primary language, absence of a pre‐existing cognitive disorder preventing study evaluation
Exclusion criteria: nm
Participants Sample characteristics:
N of participants original cohort: unknown; N of participants described study group: 162; N of participants study group of interest: 162; N of participants fatigue assessed: 162
Participant characteristics:
Tumour type: ALL n = 162
Tumour stage: nm
Age at diagnosis: median 3.9 years (range 0.4 ‐ 18.6)
Time since diagnosis and/or end of therapy: median 10.2 years (range 5 ‐ 22.7) and median 7.4 years (range 1.9 ‐ 20.3)
Age at assessment: median 15.7 years (range 6.9 ‐ 29.0)
F/M: 72/90
BMI: nm
Race/ethnicity: White n = 146
Marital status: nm
Highest completed education level: nm
Employment: nm
Physical activity level: nm
Sleeping problems: nm
Psychosocial problems: nm
 Comorbidities: pre‐hypertension n = 15, definite hypertension n = 6, seizures n = 17, back pain n = 37
Genetic factors/mutations: nm
Interventions N of participants chemotherapy: 162
N of participants cranial irradiation: 23
N of participants surgery: 0
N of participants SCT: 0
Received chemotherapeutic agents: triple intrathecal therapy with cytarabine, methotrexate and hydrocortisone: n = 162
Outcomes Severe fatigue:
N of participants with severe fatigue: 3/162 (1.9%)
Risk and associated factors:
Dependent factor: mild to severe fatigue (yes/no)b
Multivariable:
Significant: relapse (OR 8.35 (95% CI 1.16 to 59.93), P = 0.03)
Notes Funding sources: Grant CA21765 from the National cancer institute and by the Lebanese Syrian associated charities
Declaration of interest: nothing to declare
aNot every survivor completed the BFI, only if the screening question was positive for fatigue/energy loss
bAnalysis was performed with mild to severe fatigue as outcome (mean score ≥ 1). It is unclear which other variables were included in the multivariable model
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Representative study group (selection bias) High risk Size of original cohort is unclear, 432 eligible participants, 162 described study group, < 90%
Adequate follow‐up assessment (attrition bias) Low risk Outcome was assessed for > 95% of the study group of interest
Blinded outcome assessor (detection bias) 
 All outcomes High risk Outcome assessors were not blinded to the investigated determinant
Adjustment important confounders Unclear risk Unclear which other variables were included in multivariable model
Well‐defined study group (reporting bias) Unclear risk Type of cancer and cancer treatment are mentioned but information about doses is not reported. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are described
Well‐defined follow‐up (reporting bias) Low risk Length of follow‐up is mentioned
Well‐defined outcome severe fatigue (reporting bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk The authors reported which instrument they used to assess fatigue and what they considered to be severe fatigue
Well‐defined outcome fatigue (reporting bias) Low risk Authors reported which instrument they used to assess fatigue, and how they described fatigue (mild to severe fatigue)
Well‐defined risk estimation Unclear risk Odds ratio is provided for significant factor. Unclear which other variables were included in multivariable model.