Psychosocial Outcomes of Quadrantectomy Versus Mastectomy in a Southern Italian Sample: Development and Needs of the Italian Derriford Appearance Scale 24

Timothy Moss; Andrea Chirico; Luca Mallia; Fabio Lucidi; Alfredo Fucito; Massimiliano D'Aiuto; Antonio Giordano

Psychosocial Outcomes of Quadrantectomy Versus Mastectomy in a Southern Italian Sample: Development and Needs of the Italian Derriford Appearance Scale 24

Anticancer Res. 2016 Apr;36(4):1519-26.

Authors

Timothy Moss¹, Andrea Chirico², Luca Mallia³, Fabio Lucidi⁴, Alfredo Fucito⁵, Massimiliano D'Aiuto⁶, Antonio Giordano⁷

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England (Bristol), Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, U.K.
² Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. Department of Psychology of Development and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Psychology of Development and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. Breast Department, G. Pascale National Cancer Institute, Naples, Italy.
⁶ Breast Department, G. Pascale National Cancer Institute, Naples, Italy.
⁷ Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. giordano@temple.edu.

PMID: 27069127

Abstract

Background/aim: Breast cancer is associated with appearance concerns and issues of appearance identity, that require an appropriate and independent assessment. The Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS) has been widely used to this end, as has been shown in UK and other international samples. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which an Italian translation of DAS24 is valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate, while remaining user friendly. The extent to which the statistical robustness of the scale is maintained was also assessed.

Patients and methods: Ninety-three female participants were recruited at a Breast Cancer Department in Southern Italy. According to the protocol designed by the original authors of the questionnaire, a booklet containing the DAS24ita and other scale was completed anonymously by participants.

Conclusion: The results of the statistical analysis confirmed the validity and reliability of the DAS24ita. The DAS24ita demonstrated significant correlations with the other measures of appearance sensitivity and quality of life. The translated scale was able to differentiate among patients with differential diagnoses, and was more sensitive to these differences than generic quality-of-life scales.

Keywords: Appearance; DAS24; breast; cancer; oncology; validation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety
Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
Depression
Female
Humans
Italy
Mastectomy / methods*
Mastectomy / psychology*
Middle Aged
Physical Appearance, Body
Quality of Life
Reproducibility of Results
Self Concept*
Surveys and Questionnaires*
Young Adult