Abstract
Background: Dysphagia is a common side effect of anticancer treatments in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and can worsen patients' quality of life. A well-established measure is essential to evaluate dysphagia in HNC patients.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI-C) for HNC patients.
Methods: A total of 220 subjects were included in the study. Reliability was examined by internal consistency (Cronbach's [alpha]) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient). Validity was evaluated with Spearman correlations (r).
Results: The Cronbach's [alpha] and intraclass correlation coefficient of the MDADI-C were .923 and 0.942, respectively. The criterion validity of the MDADI-C was 0.777. The Spearman correlation coefficients of the MDADI-C with the European Organization for Research Into the Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire for Head and Neck Cancer (r = -0.851), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (r = -0.424), radiotherapy dose (r = -0.553), and treatment regimens (r = -0.407) demonstrated good construct validity (all P < .01).
Conclusions: The MDADI-C demonstrated good psychometric properties and would be a valuable tool for clinicians to screen dysphagia rapidly and evaluate its impact on the quality of life of HNC patients.
Implications for Practice: The MDADI-C could be used to document and monitor the dysphagia level of HNC patients for clinicians, nurses, and researchers. This validated questionnaire will help nurses and doctors to improve dysphagia management in HNC patients and will allow researchers to compare the study results across different countries.