“What happens if you do something?”
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It is a good idea to answer the questionnaire together with someone who sees you in everyday life |
FUNCAP Questionnaire
The FUNCAP Questionnaire is a relatively new tool to communicate functional capacity that helps capture symptom exacerbation caused by normal activities. The form comes in two versions, a longer with 55 questions, and a shorter with 27 questions.
FUNCAP was developed through several consecutive rounds of surveys and feedback from thousands of ME respondents. It has been designed to be used for assessing the Post Exertion Response in ME and functional capacity when investigating possible ME diagnosis, follow-up, assessment in connection with applying for disability benefits, and in research as outcome measure.
FUNCAP 27
FUNCAP 27 is a patient-informed and validated questionnaire that uses 27 questions to measure Functional Capacity.
Completing the questionnaire provides a total score out of 6, where a score of 5.8-6 is typical of a healthy individual and a lower score e.g., 2.8 represents reduced Functional Capacity.
FUNCAP 27 questionnaire could be filled out once a month. Once you have done this for six months, for example, you can see your score on the 0 to 6 scale.
One individual with Severe ME noted their score is “holding steady at about 2.8 on the 0 to 6 scale”.
Categories Covered
The questionnaire covers the following categories:
• personal hygiene/basic functions• walking – moving around• being upright• activities in the home• communication• activities outside your home• reactions to light and sound• concentration
For each item in the above categories the questionnaire asks you to choose one of the following statements:
0: I cannot do this1: My capacity will be severely reduced for at least three days2: I can do little else on the same day and for one to two days afterwards3: I can do little else on the same day4: I must limit other activities on the same day5: This rarely affects other activities6: Unproblematic – does not affect other activities
Further Details & Other Resources
• More about FUNCAP
• The longer questionnaire FUNCAP 55
• Other tools to measure & track your symptoms & severities
More About FUNCAP
The FUNCAP project was described at the 15th Invest in ME Research International ME Conference in 2023.
In his presentation Professor Kristian Sommerfelt discusses how the Functional Capacity Questionnaire came about. He talks about how they tried to move away from “can you” do something and focused on using language asking “what happens if you” do something.
Presentation (20+ mins)
In his presentation Professor Kristian Sommerfelt discusses how the Functional Capacity Questionnaire came about. He talks about how they tried to move away from “can you” do something and focused on using language asking “what happens if you” do something.
Presentation (20+ mins)
FUNCAP 55 (the longer questionnaire)
To assess functional capacity in patients, we need to know the consequences of performing activities, and not if a patient can simply do something.
To assess functional capacity in patients, we need to know the consequences of performing activities, and not if a patient can simply do something.
FUNCAP asks how performing an activity affects the ability to perform other activities.
Please see the longer questionnaire FUNCAP55
Other tools which may help you to communicate about your illness to your doctors and others
• What about my Symptoms and Severities?
Please see the tracking & checklist Symptoms & Severities Questionnaire by De Paul (based on research)
• What about my post exertion experience?
Please see the Post Exertion Questionnaire by De Paul (based on research):
• Do I have ME? - Webform from the Swiss Society for ME which provides a printout indicating whether a patient fits the typical or atypical diagnosis of the ME-ICC, please access that webform here
• Bells Disability Scale
Please find another disability and functional scale by Bell here
• What about my post exertion experience?
Please see the Post Exertion Questionnaire by De Paul (based on research):
• Do I have ME? - Webform from the Swiss Society for ME which provides a printout indicating whether a patient fits the typical or atypical diagnosis of the ME-ICC, please access that webform here
• Bells Disability Scale
Please find another disability and functional scale by Bell here
Access to both the FUNCAP 27 and FUNCAP 55 is available via the FUNCAP website
