Validation of a patient ‐reported outcomes symptom measure for patients with nontransfusion‐dependent thalassemia (NTDT‐PRO©)

This study demonstrates the quantitative characteristics of the first patient ‐reported outcome (PRO) tool developed for patients with nontransfusion‐dependent β‐thalassemia (NTDT), the NTDT‐PRO©. A multicenter validation study was performed over 24  weeks, involving 48 patients from Italy, Lebanon, Greece, and Thailand. Most patients were female (68.8%), with a median age of 34.5 years (range, 18‐52); 66.7% were diagnosed with β‐thalassemia intermedia, and median time since diagnosis was 22 years (range, 0‐43). The NTDT‐PRO compri ses 6 items across 2 domains (Tiredness/Weakness and Shortness of Breath [SoB]), and was valid and reliable, with good consistency. At baseline, most patients reported symptoms as present via the NTDT‐PRO, and were highly compliant, ≥90% completing the NTDT‐PRO tool. In a pairwise correlation analysis, all items were positively correlated. Correlations between NTDT‐PRO and existing tools—36‐Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF‐36v2) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Anemia (FACT‐An)—were assessed at weeks 1, 3, and 12; robust correlations were seen between SoB and SF‐36v2‐Vitality (rs = −0.53), and between SoB and Fact‐An‐Fatigue Experience (rs = −0.66) at week 1. Internal consistency was high for both Tiredness/Weakness (Cronbach alpha, 0.91) and SoB (Spearman‐Brown coefficient, 0.78); intraclass correlation coefficients were high (Tiredness/Weakness, 0.88 and 0.97; ...
Source: American Journal of Hematology - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research