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The modified Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form: a modified response format and rational scoring rules
J L Sharp1, K Gough2,3, M C Pascoe2,4
1Department of Statistics, Data Science, and Epidemiology, Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.
Summary
Modifications to the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF) improved usability for self-completion. Rational scoring rules minimized data loss from incorrectly completed responses, enhancing symptom assessment accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
- Clinical Assessment Tools
Background:
- The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF) is a key instrument for symptom assessment in clinical practice.
- Self-administration of the MSAS-SF presents challenges due to its two-part response format, leading to completion errors.
- Improving the usability of symptom assessment tools is crucial for accurate patient data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe modifications to the MSAS-SF response format to enhance usability for self-completion.
- To introduce rational scoring rules for incorrectly completed MSAS-SF items to improve data integrity.
- To evaluate the impact of these modifications on response completion and data validity.
Main Methods:
- The modified MSAS-SF was administered to 311 women in the PeNTAGOn study (Peer and Nurse support Trial to Assist women in Gynaecological Oncology).
- Descriptive statistics were used to analyze completion rates and symptom statistics before and after applying rational scoring rules.
- Spearman's correlations were calculated to assess the validity of the modified MSAS-SF against the FACT-G and HADS.
Main Results:
- Correct completion rates for the modified MSAS-SF items ranged from 91.5% to 98.7%.
- Rational scoring rules increased the percentage of usable responses by an average of 4% across all symptoms.
- The modified MSAS-SF demonstrated valid correlations with FACT-G and HADS, consistent with prior research.
Conclusions:
- The modified MSAS-SF is a usable tool for self-completion in clinical settings.
- Rational scoring rules effectively minimize data loss from incorrectly completed responses.
- Further research is recommended to validate these findings in broader populations.
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