Content area
Abstract
Purpose
The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF) is a widely used symptom assessment instrument. Patients who self-complete the MSAS-SF have difficulty following the two-part response format, resulting in incorrectly completed responses. We describe modifications to the response format to improve useability, and rational scoring rules for incorrectly completed items.
Methods
The modified MSAS-SF was completed by 311 women in our Peer and Nurse support Trial to Assist women in Gynaecological Oncology; the PeNTAGOn study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise completion of the modified MSAS-SF, and provide symptom statistics before and after applying the rational scoring rules. Spearman’s correlations with the Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were assessed.
Results
Correct completion of the modified MSAS-SF items ranged from 91.5 to 98.7%. The rational scoring rules increased the percentage of useable responses on average 4% across all symptoms. MSAS-SF item statistics were similar with and without the scoring rules. The pattern of correlations with FACT-G and HADS was compatible with prior research.
Conclusion
The modified MSAS-SF was useable for self-completion and responses demonstrated validity. The rational scoring rules can minimise loss of data from incorrectly completed responses. Further investigation is recommended.
Details
; Pascoe, M C 3
; Drosdowsky, A 4 ; Chang, V T 5 ; Schofield, P 6 1 Department of Statistics, Data Science, and Epidemiology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
2 Department of Cancer Experiences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
3 Department of Cancer Experiences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; The Institute for Health and Sport (IHES), Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
4 Department of Cancer Experiences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
5 Department of Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Section of Hematology Oncology, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
6 Department of Cancer Experiences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia