Validation of the Spanish version of the Cancer Symptom Scale in Hispanic cancer patients.
Velda Janet Gonzalez-Mercado, Leorey N Saligan, Carmen S Rodriguez and 3 others
PMID 30284336WHAT IT FOUND
The Spanish Cancer Symptom Scale allowed nurses to assess cancer treatment symptoms in 121 Puerto Rican patients, and it agreed with established Spanish symptom and quality-of-life measures.
Key findings
01The Spanish CSS severity items agreed with the Spanish MDASI severity items.
02In 77 patients, Spanish CSS symptom subscale scores moved opposite to FACT-G quality-of-life scores.
03Patients receiving chemotherapy reported worse hair loss, taste change, poor appetite and worry than post-treatment/survivorship patients, but not on other intensity items.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience sample of 121 patients at two cancer treatment facilities in Puerto Rico, so it may not represent all cancer patients. Patients had different cancer diagnoses, treatments and treatment time points, which makes it harder to know how the scale performs in any one group. The Spanish version did not include items on feeling drowsy, difficulty sleeping or difficulty swallowing. The translated scale was not pre-tested in the target population before this study. Reliability testing was limited: test-retest used only 15 patients, and the analysis was basic.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this scale captures all cancer symptoms. The Spanish version did not include items on feeling drowsy, difficulty sleeping or difficulty swallowing.