OBJECTIVE: Assessment in palliative care requires a multidimensional review of physical symptoms and psychosocial concerns in a format appropriate for patients with advanced illness. In this study, we describe the initial development and validation of a structured interview for assessing common symptoms and concerns faced by terminally ill individuals. METHOD: We constructed a 13-item Structured Interview for Symptoms and Concerns (SISC) based on a review of end-of-life issues and administered it to 69 patients receiving palliative care for advanced cancer. Along with the interview, each participant completed visual analog scales (VAS) addressing the same constructs. Test-retest and interrater reliability were determined, as was the concordance between interview ratings and VAS scores. RESULTS: Overall, the interview items had excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlations were > 0.90) and at least moderate temporal stability (test-retest correlations ranged from 0.50 to 0.90). Concurrent validity was evident in the good concordance between interview items and VAS measures (correlations were > 0.70). The SISC was also sensitive to individual differences between subgroups of participants who did or did not meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that structured interviews provide a reliable and valid approach to assessment in palliative care and may be an appropriate alternative for some research applications.
OBJECTIVE: Assessment in palliative care requires a multidimensional review of physical symptoms and psychosocial concerns in a format appropriate for patients with advanced illness. In this study, we describe the initial development and validation of a structured interview for assessing common symptoms and concerns faced by terminally ill individuals. METHOD: We constructed a 13-item Structured Interview for Symptoms and Concerns (SISC) based on a review of end-of-life issues and administered it to 69 patients receiving palliative care for advanced cancer. Along with the interview, each participant completed visual analog scales (VAS) addressing the same constructs. Test-retest and interrater reliability were determined, as was the concordance between interview ratings and VAS scores. RESULTS: Overall, the interview items had excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlations were > 0.90) and at least moderate temporal stability (test-retest correlations ranged from 0.50 to 0.90). Concurrent validity was evident in the good concordance between interview items and VAS measures (correlations were > 0.70). The SISC was also sensitive to individual differences between subgroups of participants who did or did not meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that structured interviews provide a reliable and valid approach to assessment in palliative care and may be an appropriate alternative for some research applications.
Authors: Richard A Mularski; Sydney M Dy; Lisa R Shugarman; Anne M Wilkinson; Joanne Lynn; Paul G Shekelle; Sally C Morton; Virginia C Sun; Ronda G Hughes; Lara K Hilton; Margaret Maglione; Shannon L Rhodes; Cony Rolon; Karl A Lorenz Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2007-10 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: Richard Schulz; Joan K Monin; Sara J Czaja; Jennifer H Lingler; Scott R Beach; Lynn M Martire; Angela Dodds; Randy S Hebert; Bozena Zdaniuk; Thomas B Cook Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2010-05-17
Authors: Christopher T Richards; Michael A Gisondi; Chih-Hung Chang; D Mark Courtney; Kirsten G Engel; Linda Emanuel; Tammie Quest Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2011-05-06 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Barry Rosenfeld; Hayley Pessin; Charles Lewis; Jennifer Abbey; Megan Olden; Emily Sachs; Lia Amakawa; Elissa Kolva; Robert Brescia; William Breitbart Journal: Psychol Assess Date: 2011-06
Authors: Harvey Max Chochinov; Linda J Kristjanson; William Breitbart; Susan McClement; Thomas F Hack; Tom Hassard; Mike Harlos Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2011-07-06 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Richard Schulz; Scott R Beach; Randy S Hebert; Lynn M Martire; Joan K Monin; Connie A Tompkins; Steven M Albert Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2009-03 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Keith G Wilson; Hervey Max Chochinov; Pierre Allard; Srini Chary; Pierre R Gagnon; Karen Macmillan; Marina De Luca; Fiona O'Shea; David Kuhl; Robin L Fainsinger Journal: Pain Res Manag Date: 2009 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 3.037
Authors: Richard Schulz; Kathleen A McGinnis; Song Zhang; Lynn M Martire; Randy S Hebert; Scott R Beach; Bozena Zdaniuk; Sara J Czaja; Steven H Belle Journal: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord Date: 2008 Apr-Jun Impact factor: 2.703