Psychometric Properties of MD Anderson Symptoms Inventory for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients in Thailand

BACKGROUND: The MD Anderson Symptoms Inventory for acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome (MDASI-AML/MDS) is a specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) and widely used to assess the quality of life of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. This study aimed to validate the inventory in Thai AML patients. METHODS: After receiving permission, the original MDASI-AML/MDS was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Thai. Twenty AML patients were included in the study. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Spearman’s rank correlation was used to investigate the subscales of Thai MDASI-AML/MDS and Thai version of European Quality of Life-5 Dimension-5 Level (Thai EQ-5D-5L). RESULTS: All subscales of Thai MDASI-AML/MDS showed an acceptable Cronbach’s alpha (0.64-0.91). The test-retest reliability of each subscale was adequate (ICC = 0.88-0.95). The core symptoms subscale in the Thai MDASI-AML/MDS strongly correlated to the anxiety/ depression subscale in the Thai EQ-5D-5L (r = 0.69, p = 0.0006). A strong correlation was demonstrated between the interference subscale of the Thai MDASI-AML/MDS and the usual activities subscale of Thai EQ-5D-5L (r = 0.77, p = 0.0001). A weak correlation was found between the MDS/AML specific symptoms subscale in the Thai MDASI-AML/MDS and anxiety and depression subscale in the Thai EQ-5D-5L (r = 0.49, p = 0.0285). The Thai MDASI-AML/MDS had strong correlation with Thai EQ-5D-5L (r = 0.71, p = 0.0050). CONCLUSIONS: The Thai MDASI-AML/MDS provides adequate internal consistency in all subscales as well as good construct validity and reliability for Thai patients.