Validation of self-reported complications by bone marrow transplantation survivors

Citation
Ad. Louie et al., Validation of self-reported complications by bone marrow transplantation survivors, BONE MAR TR, 25(11), 2000, pp. 1191-1196
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Hematology,"Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Journal title
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION
ISSN journal
02683369 → ACNP
Volume
25
Issue
11
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1191 - 1196
Database
ISI
SICI code
0268-3369(200006)25:11<1191:VOSCBB>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Self-administered questionnaires are commonly used to measure exposures and outcomes in epidemiological research and thus need good validity. With inc reasing numbers of cancer survivors, there is interest in the ongoing asses sment of therapy-related complications, A medical record validation of pati ent-reported complications following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed using a self-administered questionnaire. The study population con sisted of 100 patients who had undergone BMT at the City of Hope. The follo wing self-reported complications were validated using medical records: ocul ar, endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal , neurological, graft-versus-host disease, and subsequent cancers. Using in formation from medical records as the standard, sensitivities ranged from 5 2.9% for subsequent cancers to 100% for avascular necrosis and hypothyroidi sm, Specificities ranged from 75.4% for ocular complications to 100% for av ascular necrosis, There was intermediate to excellent agreement (kappa = 0. 4-1.0) for all complications evaluated. Thus, the agreement between self-re porting and medical records was good for complications with clear diagnosti c criteria that are easily communicated to the patient, but was diminished for complications with non-established diagnostic criteria (xerophthalmia) or a fluctuating course (peripheral neuropathies and hypertension), Overall these results suggest that cancer survivors can self-report serious compli cations with an acceptable level of accuracy in epidemiological research.