Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS-J).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this project was to develop an appropriate and valid instrument for assessment by medical professionals in Japanese palliative care settings.


METHODS
We developed a Japanese version of the Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS-J), using a back translation method, and tested its reliability and validity. In the reliability study, 16 nurses and a physician who work in a palliative care unit evaluated 10 hypothetical cases twice at 3-month intervals. For the validity study, external researchers interviewed 50 patients with matignancy and their families and compared the results with ratings by the nurses in the palliative care unit.


RESULTS
Our results with hypothetical cases were: interrater reliability weighted kappa = 0.53-0.77 and intrarater reliability weighted kappa = 0.64-0.85. In the validity study comparing nurse evaluations and the results of interviews with patients and families, complete agreement was 36-70%, and close agreement (+/-1) was 74-100%. As a whole, weighted kappa were low: between -0.07 and 0.51. Our results were similar to those in the United Kingdom and Canada.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this research was conducted under methodologically limited conditions, we concluded that the STAS-J is a reliable tool and its validity is acceptable. The STAS-J should become a valuable tool, not only for daily clinical use, but also for research.
Miyashita
Mitsunori
M
Department of Adult Nursing/Terminal and Long-term Care Nursing, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. miyasita-tky@umin.ac.jp
Matoba
Kazuko
K
Sasahara
Tomoyo
T
Kizawa
Yoshiyuki
Y
Maruguchi
Misae
M
Abe
Mayumi
M
Kawa
Masako
M
Shima
Yasuo
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating