Linguistic adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Memorial Pain Assessment Card (MPAC).
BACKGROUND
The Memorial Pain Assessment Card (MPAC), validated in 1987, is a card utilised for the self-assessment of cancer pain. The MPAC provides a quick, reliable measure of quality of life.


METHODS
This study is a linguistic adaptation of the original version of the MPAC into the Spanish language and its validation. This was a multicentre, cross-sectional, observational study. Linguistic adaptation was carried out by four independent translators and two medical oncologists. The MPAC includes 4 subscales: three are visual analogue scales (VAS) measuring pain relief (VASPR), pain intensity (VASPI) and mood (VASMOOD). A fourth subscale consists of a set of pain severity descriptors (Tursky scale).


RESULTS
VASPR has been validated in a subsequent prospective follow-up study. The validation of the MPAC subscales included: reliability (Cronbach's coefficient), internal validation (Spearman's coefficient) and external validation (McGill Pain Questionnaire, MPQ; Profile of Mood States, POMS; Hamilton Depression Scales, HDRS; and Zung Anxiety Scale, ZAS). A moderately high reliability of the VASPI, Tursky and VASMOOD subscales (alpha=0.72) was observed. Regarding internal validity, VASPI correlated significantly with Tursky and VASMOOD. However, they showed a non-significant correlation between each other. Regarding external validity, VASPI, Tursky and VASMOOD were correlated with most of the MPQ subscales. VASMOOD and Tursky correlated with most of the POMS subscales, but not with HDRS or ZAS. VASPI showed a non-significant correlation with all of the psychological distress measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings showed a successful validation of the VASPI, VASMOOD and Tursky subscales of the MPAC Spanish version.
Escobar
Yolanda
Y
Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, ES-28009 Madrid, Spain. yolandaesco@yahoo.es
Domine
Manuel
M
Contreras
Jorge
J
Valcárcel
Francisco
F
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology