Translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese of the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 (VHNSS 2.0) for the assessment of oral symptoms in head and neck cancer patients submitted to radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Patients submitted to radiotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer have several symptoms, predominantly oral. The Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 is an American tool developed to evaluate oral symptoms in head and neck cancer patients submitted to radiotherapy.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to translate the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 into Brazilian Portuguese and cross-culturally adapt this tool for subsequent validation and application in Brazil.


METHODS
A method used for the translation and cultural adaptation of tools, which included independent translations, synthesis of the translations, back-translations, expert committee, and pre-test, was used. The pre-test was performed with 37 head and neck cancer patients, who were divided into four groups, to assess the relevance and understanding of the assessed items. Data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The overall mean of the content validity index was 0.79 for semantic and idiomatic equivalence, and it was higher than 0.8 for cultural and conceptual equivalence. The cognitive interview showed that patients were able to paraphrase the items, and considered them relevant and easily understood.


CONCLUSIONS
The tool was translated and cross-culturally adapted to be used in Brazil. The authors believe this translation is suited for validation.
Postgraduate Program in Oncology, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: embarroso@uol.com.br.
Eliane Marçon
EM
Barroso
Postgraduate Program in Oncology, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil; Head and Neck Department, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil; Grupo de Pesquisa em Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (GPQual) - CNPq, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
André Lopes
AL
Carvalho
Postgraduate Program in Oncology, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil; Grupo de Pesquisa em Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (GPQual) - CNPq, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil; Department of Clinical Oncology, Breast and Gynecology Division, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
Carlos Eduardo
CE
Paiva
Department of Clinical Oncology, Breast and Gynecology Division, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
João Soares
JS
Nunes
Postgraduate Program in Oncology, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil; Grupo de Pesquisa em Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (GPQual) - CNPq, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro
BS
Paiva
D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations
Head and neck neoplasms; Neoplasias de cabeça e pescoço; Oral health; Qualidade de vida; Quality of life; Saúde bucal; Tradução; Translating