Validation and adaptation of the Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale-59 Items Revised...

The Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale-59 Items Revised (MTSOSD-59R) is a validated self-reported scale assessing patients' subjective experiences of adverse effects of immunosuppressants. It has been reported that the scale should be adapted and validated before it is used in patients of a different cultural (Brazilian, Dutch, German, French, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish) background.

To validate and adapt the MTSOSD-59R for use in Turkish transplant recipients.

This cross-sectional study was performed between March 2010 and February 2011, and included 180 liver and kidney transplant recipients treated in 2 university hospitals in western Turkey. In addition, 180 healthy control participants were recruited from a community health service. Data were collected by using a demographic and clinical characteristics scale (MTSOSD-59R) and the Beck Depression Inventory. Items were translated in a culturally sensitive way by using forward-backward translation. Content validity was evaluated by using the content validity index. Ridit analysis and descriptive statistics helped to describe symptom experience in our population, and Mann Whitney U testing was used to compare patients versus healthy controls, depressed versus nondepressed patients, and male versus female patients for validity purposes. Split-half reliability analysis was used.

The content validity index was perfect (ie, value 1.0); the Turkish translation of the MTSOSD-59R had excellent known group validity. Split-half Spearman Brown corrected reliability coefficient was 0.991 for symptom occurrence and 0.992 for symptom distress.

The results suggest that the Turkish scale has appropriate language, content, and construct validity. This scale can now be used to assess the symptom experience related to immunosuppressive therapy in Turkish organ transplant recipients.