BACKGROUND: Improved measurement of clinically meaningful symptoms is needed in advanced bladder cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study developed and examined the initial reliability and validity of a new measure of advanced bladder cancer-specific symptoms, the NCCN-FACT Bladder Symptom Index-18 (NFBISI-18), which assesses the symptoms perceived as most important by patients and oncology clinical experts. METHODS: A total of 31 individuals with advanced bladder cancer rated the importance of 28 symptoms. In addition, 10 oncology clinical experts rated symptoms as treatment- or disease-related. Patient-rated symptoms were reconciled with published clinicians' symptom priorities, producing the NFBISI-18. Participants completed measures of quality of life (QOL) and performance status to examine initial validity. RESULTS: An 18-item symptom index for advanced bladder cancer included 3 subscales: disease-related symptoms, treatment side effects, and general function/well-being. Lower scores indicate greater symptom burden. Preliminary reliability reveals good internal consistency for the full NFBISI-18 (alpha = 0.83). The NFBISI-18 was significantly associated with QOL criteria and performance status, in the expected direction. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the relatively low reliability of the disease-related symptoms subscale. CONCLUSION: The NFBISI-18 demonstrates preliminary evidence as a valid brief measure of the most important symptoms of advanced bladder cancer, as rated by both patients and oncology clinical experts. The NFBISI-18 should have greater acceptability to regulatory authorities than previously developed questionnaires.
BACKGROUND: Improved measurement of clinically meaningful symptoms is needed in advanced bladder cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study developed and examined the initial reliability and validity of a new measure of advanced bladder cancer-specific symptoms, the NCCN-FACT Bladder Symptom Index-18 (NFBISI-18), which assesses the symptoms perceived as most important by patients and oncology clinical experts. METHODS: A total of 31 individuals with advanced bladder cancer rated the importance of 28 symptoms. In addition, 10 oncology clinical experts rated symptoms as treatment- or disease-related. Patient-rated symptoms were reconciled with published clinicians' symptom priorities, producing the NFBISI-18. Participants completed measures of quality of life (QOL) and performance status to examine initial validity. RESULTS: An 18-item symptom index for advanced bladder cancer included 3 subscales: disease-related symptoms, treatment side effects, and general function/well-being. Lower scores indicate greater symptom burden. Preliminary reliability reveals good internal consistency for the full NFBISI-18 (alpha = 0.83). The NFBISI-18 was significantly associated with QOL criteria and performance status, in the expected direction. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the relatively low reliability of the disease-related symptoms subscale. CONCLUSION: The NFBISI-18 demonstrates preliminary evidence as a valid brief measure of the most important symptoms of advanced bladder cancer, as rated by both patients and oncology clinical experts. The NFBISI-18 should have greater acceptability to regulatory authorities than previously developed questionnaires.
Authors: Scott M Gilbert; Rodney L Dunn; Brent K Hollenbeck; James E Montie; Cheryl T Lee; David P Wood; John T Wei Journal: J Urol Date: 2010-03-17 Impact factor: 7.450
Authors: D F Cella; D S Tulsky; G Gray; B Sarafian; E Linn; A Bonomi; M Silberman; S B Yellen; P Winicour; J Brannon Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 1993-03 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: David Cella; Diane Paul; Susan Yount; Rodger Winn; Chih-Hung Chang; Donald Banik; Jane Weeks Journal: Cancer Invest Date: 2003 Impact factor: 2.176
Authors: Arnold Degboe; Cristina Ivanescu; Jeffrey M Rohay; Ralph R Turner; David Cella Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-03-01 Impact factor: 3.603