title: Validation of the Amharic Version of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory and Assessment of Symptoms in Ethiopian Cancer Patients.
abstract: Cancer patients often face a variety of symptoms that impact their quality of life. The management of these symptoms is highly dependent on the accurate appraisal of their severity through the use of a standardized symptom assessment tool. The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), developed in English, is one of such tools that contain 13 core cancer related symptoms that can easily be rated on a scale of 0-10.
  
  
  
  The present study tried to develop and validate the Amharic language version of the MDASI (MDASI-Am).
  
  
  
  The MDASI-Am was developed by the standard forward/backward translation of the original English version of the MDASI. The MDASI-Am was completed by or administered to 145 randomly selected Ethiopian cancer patients. Factor analysis, Cronbach α coefficient, and mean comparison, respectively, were used to establish construct validity, internal consistency, and known-group validity (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status).
  
  
  
  Factor analysis identified three symptom constructs interpreted as general, gastrointestinal, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, with Cronbach α coefficients of 0.70, 0.80, and 0.82, respectively. The MDASI-Am significantly detected differences in symptom severity and interference levels in patient groups categorized according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (P < 0.01), establishing known-group validity. The most prevalent severe symptoms identified in the current sample were pain, sadness, numbness, distress, and fatigue.
  
  
  
  The MDASI-Am is a valid and reliable tool for measuring symptom severity and symptom interference with daily living in Ethiopian cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abel Tesfaye
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Anshabo
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Directorate, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Sefinew
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Migbaru
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Atalay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dawit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Negusu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Alemseged Ayele
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Asfaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dagmawit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Awoke
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Wondemagegnhu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tigeneh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Electronic address: ephrem.engidawork@aau.edu.et.
authors.forename: Ephrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engidawork
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005002:Ethiopia; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amharic version of MDASI; Cancer; assessment tool; cancer symptoms; validation