title: Psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Breast Module (BR23).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Breast Module (BR23) is increasingly being used worldwide in breast cancer research. This study evaluates the appropriateness of the translated version (i.e. BR23-Malay version) as a useful tool for the Malaysian population who could understand Malay, and examines the reliability and validity of the BR23-Malay version.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study involving 68 Malaysian women who could understand Malay very well. They answered the BR23-Malay version at two evaluation points--three and ten weeks following surgery for breast cancer. Internal consistency, test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), effect size index, sensitivity and discriminity of the scale were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistencies were acceptable for the functional domains (0.87 for body image; 0.84 for sexual functioning) and symptomatology domains (0.82 for systemic therapy side effect; 0.82 for breast symptoms; 0.70 for arm symptoms). Test-retest ICC ranged from 0.26 to 1.00. Sensitivity of the scale was observed in all domains except sexual functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Malay version of BR23 is a suitable tool to measure the functional and symptomatology domains of women diagnosed with breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Science, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. nasirff@kk.usm.my
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yusoff
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yip
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008296:Malaysia; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity