title: Reliability and validity of the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI) in Japanese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This project evaluated the psychometric properties of a translated version of the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI) for use with Japanese patients. The HNCI is a measure for assessing the quality of life (QoL) of head and neck cancer patients and survivors. The present study was aimed at investigating the reliability and validity of this translated instrument.
  
  
  METHODS
  Some 165 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) were enrolled at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. The instrument's internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Criterion-related validity was assessed by correlations between the HNCI and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 29 of the 30 items in the original version were selected to comprise the Japanese version of the HNCI (Japanese HNCI). Investigation of criterion-related validity using the FACT-H&N demonstrated significant correlations (Spearman's ρ = 0.47-0.63). The value of Cronbach's α for each subscale ranged from 0.84 to 0.87. Test-retest reliability showed an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.62-0.79.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reliability and validity of the Japanese HNCI were evaluated. Although its classification is different from the original U.S. version, the Japanese HNCI is a self-administered questionnaire that can assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine,Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Tokyo Medical and Dental University,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine,Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Tokyo Medical and Dental University,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichikura
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Medical Hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Section of Head and Neck Surgery,Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Tokyo Medical and Dental University,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences,College of Life Sciences,Ritsumeikan University,Shiga,Japan.
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimozuma
authors.affiliation: Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine,Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,Tokyo Medical and Dental University,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsushima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014177:Translations
keywords: Head and Neck Cancer Inventory; Head and neck cancer; Health status assessment; Japanese cancer patients; Quality of life