Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ) for Brazilian Patients: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation Study

Author(s)

Bernardes Spexoto, Maria Claudia ^[1] ; Serrano, Sergio Vicente ^[2] ; Halliday, Vanessa ^[3] ; Maroco, Joao ^{[4, 5]} ; Duarte Bonini Campos, Juliana Alvares ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Alimentos & Nutr, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Araraquara, UNESP, Rod Araraqura Jau, Km 01, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Fundacao Pio XII Barretos, Barretos Canc Hosp, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sheffield, Sch Hlth & Related Res, Publ Hlth, Sheffield, S Yorkshire - England

^[4] ISPA IU, Dept Ciencias Psicol, Rua Jardim Tabaco 34, P-1149041 Lisbon - Portugal

^[5] ISPA IU, Unidade Invest Psicol & Saude, Rua Jardim Tabaco 34, P-1149041 Lisbon - Portugal

^[6] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Alimentos & Nutr, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Araraquara, Rod Araraquara Jau, Km 01, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 11, n. 6 JUN 8 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Background Appetite and symptoms, conditions generally reported by the patients with cancer, are somewhat challenging for professionals to measure directly in clinical routine (latent conditions). Therefore, specific instruments are required for this purpose. This study aimed to perform a cultural adaptation of the Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire (CASQ), into Portuguese and evaluate its psychometric properties on a sample of Brazilian cancer patients. Methods This is a validation study with Brazilian cancer patients. The face, content, and construct (factorial and convergent) validities of the Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire, the study tool, were estimated. Further, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. The ratio of chi-square and degrees of freedom (chi(2)/df), comparative fit index (CFI), goodness of fit index (GFI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were used for fit model assessment. In addition, the reliability of the instrument was estimated using the composite reliability (CR) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient (a), and the invariance of the model in independent samples was estimated by a multigroup analysis (Delta chi(2)). Results Participants included 1,140 cancer patients with a mean age of 53.95 (SD = 13.25) years; 61.3% were women. After the CFA of the original CASQ structure, 2 items with inadequate factor weights were removed. Four correlations between errors were included to provide adequate fit to the sample (chi(2)/df = 8.532, CFI = .94, GFI = .95, and RMSEA = .08). The model exhibited a low convergent validity (AVE = .32). The reliability was adequate (CR = .82 a = .82). The refined model showed strong invariance in two independent samples (Delta chi(2):lambda: p = .855; i: p = .824; Res: p = .390). A weak stability was obtained between patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy (Delta chi(2):lambda: p = .155; i: p < .001; Res: p < .001), and between patients undergoing chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and palliative care (Delta chi(2):lambda: p = .058; i: p < .001; Res: p < .001). Conclusion The Portuguese version of the CASQ had good face and construct validity and reliability. However, the CASQ still presented invariance in independent samples of Brazilian patients with cancer. However, the tool has low convergent validity and weak invariance in samples with different treatments. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/22620-5 - Quality of life and food consumption of the cancer patients
• Grantee: Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants