title: An instrument to collect data on frequency and intensity of symptoms in older palliative cancer patients: A development and validation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and validate an instrument to collect data on symptoms (frequency/intensity) in older palliative cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A four-phase instrument development and validation study was performed. A preliminary version of the instrument was developed through a literature review. Face- and content validity were assessed in a Delphi-procedure with eleven experts. Cognitive interviewing with 24 older cancer patients was performed to enhance content validity of the instrument. Test-retest was performed to assess the stability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An 40-item instrument was developed. The Assessment Symptoms Palliative Elderly (ASPE) collects data on frequency and intensity of 24 physical, 10 psychological, 3 functional, 1 spiritual and 2 social symptoms. Content validity was excellent (I-CVI 81.8%-100.0% and S-CVI 92.9%). Cognitive interviewing allowed to improve the content validity. Test-retest showed substantial to almost perfect agreement for 87.5% of the items. No item had poor or fair agreement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study resulted in the development of the ASPE which reflects good properties for face- and content validity and reliability. Cognitive interviewing has a valuable contribution in the validation process. The instrument can be used to gain insight in symptoms in older palliative cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, UZ 5K3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Aurelie.VanLancker@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Lancker
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, UZ 5K3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Dimitri.Beeckman@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beeckman
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, UZ 5K3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Sofie.Verhaeghe@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, UZ 1K4, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Nele.VanDenNoortgate@UZGent.be.
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Den Noortgate
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, UZ 5K3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Maria.Grypdonck@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grypdonck
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, UZ 5K3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Staff Member Nursing Science, Ghent University Hospital, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, UZ 5K3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Ann.vanHecke@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment
keywords: Aged; Cancer; Cognitive interviewing; Delphi-procedure; Instrument; Palliative care; Reliability; Test–retest; Validity