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The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF)

2000; Wiley; Volume: 89; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/1097-0142(20000901)89

1097-0142

Victor T. Chang, Shirley S. Hwang, Martin Feuerman, Basil Kasimis, Howard T. Thaler,

Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

BACKGROUND The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF), an abbreviated version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, measures each of 32 symptoms with respect to distress or frequency alone. A physical symptom subscale (PHYS), psychologic symptom subscale (PSYCH), and global distress index (GDI) can be derived from the Short Form. We validated the MSAS-SF in a population of cancer patients. METHODS Two hundred ninety-nine cancer patients examined at the Section of Hematology/Oncology completed the MSAS-SF and the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy (FACT-G). The Karnofsky performance status (KPS), extent of disease (EOD), and demographic data were assessed. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to assess internal reliability. MSAS-SF subscales were assessed against subscales of the FACT-G, the KPS, and EOD to determine criterion validity. Test–retest analysis was performed at 1 day and at 1 week. RESULTS The Cronbach alpha coefficients for the MSAS-SF subscales ranged from 0.76 to 0.87. The MSAS-SF subscales showed convergent validity with FACT subscales. Correlation coefficients were −0.74 (P < 0.001) for the PHYS and FACT-G physical well-being subscales, −0.68 (P < 0.001) for the PSYCH and FACT emotional well-being subscales, and −0.70 (P < 0.001) for GDI and FACT summary of quality-of-life subscales. The MSAS-SF subscales demonstrated convergent validity with performance status, inpatient status, and extent of disease. The test–retest correlation coefficients for the MSAS-SF subscales ranged from 0.86 to 0.94 at 1 day and from 0.40 to 0.84 for the 1 week group. CONCLUSIONS The MSAS-SF is a valid and easy to use instrument for symptom assessment. Cancer 2000;89:1162–71. Published 2000 American Cancer Society.