title: Cancer-related symptom assessment in France: validation of the French M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory.
abstract: This multicenter study was intended to validate the French version of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-Fr) in French cancer patients (n=162) with solid tumors or hematological malignancies. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used as a part of the validation. Factor analysis showed three underlying constructs for symptom items: general symptoms (pain, fatigue, disturbed sleep, shortness of breath, drowsiness, dry mouth, and numbness or tingling items); emotional and cognitive components (distress, sadness, and remembering items); and a gastrointestinal component (nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite items), with Cronbach's alphas of 0.79, 0.73, and 0.71, respectively. Convergent validity was established by comparing MDASI-Fr items with the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Overall, the 19-item MDASI-Fr score correlated well with the QLQ-C30 global health status, and the pain item of the MDASI-Fr was highly correlated with the short form of the BPI. The most prevalent symptoms were fatigue, distress, dry mouth, and pain. Twenty-five percent of patients reported moderate or severe pain (numeric rating scale >4 on 0-10 severity ratings). Physician ratings of global change on a second visit were significantly associated with changes in patient ratings on the MDASI-Fr, supporting the sensitivity of the measure. Symptoms interfered most with work and general activity. The MDASI-Fr is a valid and reliable tool for measuring symptom severity and interference in French cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Mobile de Soins de Support, Soins Palliatifs et Traitement de la Douleur, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, AP-HP, Boulogne, France. frederic@guirimand.fr
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guirimand
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Buyck
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lauwers-Allot
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Revnik
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerguen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aegerter
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cleeland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult