title: Development and validation of a chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an instrument to assess the specific symptoms of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two outpatient chemotherapy centers in Kanto, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of 214 adult patients with chemotherapy-induced taste alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Items on the chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale (CiTAS) were developed by a qualitative study of patients with taste alterations, and the content validity of each item was assessed by a panel of specialized oncology nurses. Data were analyzed for item consistency using Cronbach alpha and construct validity using factor analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Taste alterations, symptoms of discomfort, and impact of taste alterations on daily life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An 18-item scale was developed with four dimensions identified through factor analysis: decline in basic taste, discomfort, phantogeusia and parageusia, and general taste alterations. The scale demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.9) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.94, p < 0.001, n = 28), as well as good validity, which was indicated by its strong correlation with a visual analog scale of the impact of taste alterations on daily life (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and by negative correlations with Short Form-8 quality-of-life measures (physical component summary, r = -0.33; mental component summary, r = -0.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CiTAS enabled valid, reliable measurement of specific symptoms of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations. The CiTAS has potential as a clinical tool and also could be used as a measure of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations in future studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CiTAS may help evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the symptoms of taste alterations, such as administering zinc and self-care strategies.
authors: Department of Nursing, Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences, Japan. tarok@gchs.ac.jp
authors: Taro
authors: T
authors: Kano
authors: Kiyoko
authors: K
authors: Kanda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D010045:Outpatients; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents