449P - Psychometric validation of the MD Anderson symptom inventory head&neck module: Chinese version in nasopharyngeal cancer survivors

Background

Improved cancer survival rates have escalated the demand for sustainable supportive care for survivors. Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) survivors often grapple with lasting radiation side effects. The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory - Head & Neck Module - Chinese version (MDASI-HN-C) has previously been validated for NPC patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT), but not for survivors. This study aims to psychometrically validate the MDASI-HN-C for NPC survivors.

Methods

In this single-centre cross-sectional study, 200 NPC survivors who completed RT with or without chemotherapy between three and 120 months were surveyed. The internal consistency reliability, convergent, and construct validity of the MDASI-HN-C were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha (α) test, Pearson’s correlation (r), and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), respectively.

Results

All three subscales of the MDASI-HN-C exhibited strong internal consistency, with α ranging from 0.855 to 0.911. The MDASI-HN-C subscales were negatively correlated with the total score (r = -0.538 to -0.612; all p < 0.001), physical (r = -0.679 to -0.787; all p < 0.001), emotional (r = -0.536 to -0.625; all p < 0.001), functional (r = -0.307 to -0.390; all p < 0.001), and HN-specific (r = -0.587 to -0.616; all p < 0.001) domains of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Head & Neck (FACT-HN) scale. No correlations were identified between any subscales and the social/family domain. The MDASI-HN-C subscales were also positively correlated with the total score of the Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN) (r = 0.414 to 0.468; all p < 0.001). Two factors for the 13 core items were identified by EFA, while only one factor each was found for the HN-specific and interference items. Noteworthily, open-ended responses indicated significant concerns about hearing loss and tinnitus among NPC survivors.

Conclusions

The MDASI-HN-C is a robust tool with satisfactory psychometric properties for assessing symptom burden among NPC survivors. The inclusion of 'hearing problems' as an additional item would enhance its applicability by capturing sensorial disturbances that significantly affect this population.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.