Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Pediatric Version of Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale

Tomomi Hayase; Makiko N Mieno; Kyoko Kobayashi; Naoko Mori; Adam Jon Lebowitz; Yoko Kato; Yuya Saito; Yuki Yuza; Hirozumi Sano; Shinya Osone; Tsukasa Hori; Yuichi Shinkoda; Nobuyuki Yamamoto; Daiichiro Hasegawa; Michihiro Yano; Miho Ashiarai; Daisuke Hasegawa; Akihisa Sawada; Takuhiro Yamaguchi; Akira Morimoto; Keitaro Fukushima

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.029

Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Pediatric Version of Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 May;63(5):e495-e504. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.029. Epub 2022 Jan 11.

Authors

Tomomi Hayase¹, Makiko N Mieno², Kyoko Kobayashi³, Naoko Mori⁴, Adam Jon Lebowitz⁵, Yoko Kato⁶, Yuya Saito⁷, Yuki Yuza⁷, Hirozumi Sano⁸, Shinya Osone⁹, Tsukasa Hori¹⁰, Yuichi Shinkoda¹¹, Nobuyuki Yamamoto¹², Daiichiro Hasegawa¹³, Michihiro Yano¹⁴, Miho Ashiarai¹⁵, Daisuke Hasegawa¹⁵, Akihisa Sawada¹⁶, Takuhiro Yamaguchi¹⁷, Akira Morimoto¹⁸, Keitaro Fukushima¹⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan. Electronic address: tmm.hayase@gmail.com.
² Department of Medical Informatics, Center for Information, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
³ Department of Child Health Nursing, St. Luke's International University Graduate School of Nursing Science, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Akabane Zaitaku Clinic, Tokyo, Japan; Departments of Hematology/Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Department of General Education, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Departments of Hematology/Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
⁹ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan.
¹¹ Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
¹² Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
¹³ Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
¹⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
¹⁵ Department of Pediatrics, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
¹⁶ Department of Hematology/Oncology, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Izumi, Japan.
¹⁷ Division of Biostatistics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
¹⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
¹⁹ Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu, Japan.

PMID: 35031501
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.029

Abstract

Context: Few instruments in Japanese assess health-related quality of life in pediatric cancer patients.

Objectives: To translate the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) into Japanese pediatric and proxy versions (MSAS-J 7-12, MSAS-J 13-18, and MSAS-J-Proxy) and assess validity and reliability.

Methods: Phase I comprised forward-backward translation and pilot testing in 13 children and 16 guardians. Phase II consisted of psychometric testing of the three MSAS-J versions in 162 children and 238 guardians. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct and known-group validity of the MSAS-J were assessed.

Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the total and subscale scores were over 0.70, excluding the psychological symptom (PSYCH) subscale score of the MSAS-J 7-12. Most MSAS-J scores significantly inversely correlated with two versions of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. A strong child-guardian correlation was shown in the total and subscale scores (ICC range 0.66-0.83). Kappa estimates showed acceptable child-guardian symptom agreement. MSAS-J 7-12 and proxy differentiated patients according to clinical status.

Conclusion: MSAS-J is a reliable and valid instrument to assess symptoms among Japanese children with cancer.

Keywords: Japanese pediatric version; Memorial symptom assessment scale; linguistic validation; reliability; validity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Child
Humans
Japan
Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Neoplasms* / psychology
Psychometrics
Quality of Life*
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptom Assessment