title: Psychometric Properties of the Icelandic Version of the Revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) is a symptom assessment tool commonly used in both research and clinical practice. A revised version of the tool (ESAS-r) was published in 2011.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the psychometric properties and feasibility of the Icelandic version of ESAS-r.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was cross-sectional, and 359 cancer patients were screened for participation at inpatient and outpatient settings. The ESAS-r, M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), demographic and feasibility questions were completed by 143 patients. The psychometric properties assessed for ESAS-r were internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) and concurrent validity (Pearson correlation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reliability analysis of the ESAS-r showed good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.85). Validity analysis showed significant moderate-to-strong correlations between seven matching symptom scores on the ESAS-r and MDASI, ranging from r = 0.64-0.86. The majority of patients rated both tools easy to understand, but on the whole, significantly more patients found ESAS-r easier to complete and preferred its use over the MDASI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Icelandic version of ESAS-r is a valid and reliable tool for symptom screening in Icelandic cancer patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland. Electronic address: hallag@landspitali.is.
authors.forename: Halla
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gretarsdottir
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Nanna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fridriksdottir
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Sigridur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunnarsdottir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010045:Outpatients; D057240:Patient Preference; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D014175:Translating; D014177:Translations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; ESAS; ESAS-r; Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale; psychometric properties; symptom assessment