Developing, implementing, and validating a social toxicity assessment tool of cancer (STAT-C).

Abstract

e24115 Background: The social impact of cancer on patients and their family is well known. Yet, unlike with physical and financial toxicities, no validated tools are available to measure this impact. This study aimed at developing, validating, and implementing a novel social toxicity assessment tool for patients with cancer diagnosis (STAT-C). Methods: Questions were generated through multiple steps including focus groups of patients, their families, and oncology care professionals. Content validity, internal consistency, face validity and factor analysis were conducted. The questionnaire (in Arabic language) was administered to 150 patients with cancer served at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi, Arabia. Results: STAT-C contains 14 items covering three domains: Social Relations domain (eight questions) related to relationship with parents, spouse, children, siblings, friends, members of congregation, and caregiver; Social Activities domain (two questions) measures participation in social events and leisure; and Economic Impact domain (four questions) related to standard of living, finances, and loss of job. The total possible score for each patient for the 14 items in the tool varied between -28 and +28 (Range = 56). Dividing the range by three levels of a socioeconomic toxicity yielded the length of each level, which effectively defined the categories as- Severe social toxicity (SST score: -28 to -9.3), mild social toxicity (MST: -9.2 to 9.5) and no social toxicity (NST: 9.6 to 28). Conclusions: Our study revealed that STAT-C is a valid and reliable tool in assessing the social toxicity of cancer in Arabic-speaking patients. Validating the tool in an English-speaking population is planned. The tool should enable oncology professionals to deliver better patient-centered care as a component of a holistic approach.