The Children's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale Is Valid and Reliable for the Assessment of Mucositis Among Brazilian Children With Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundThe Children's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale (ChIMES) is considered a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of mucositis in pediatric patients aged 0–18 years. ObjectiveTo perform the translation and cultural adaptation of ChIMES to Brazilian Portuguese and assess its psychometric properties. MethodsMethods for translation and cultural adaptation were used. Other measurements obtained concomitantly for the assessment of psychometric properties included the Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire, a visual analog scale, the World Health Organization grading scale for mucositis, and the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events toxicity scale. For test-retest analysis, patients and guardians responded to the self-report and proxy versions of ChIMES within intervals of one to seven days. ResultsRegarding internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha (α) values were 0.769 (95% CI = 0.631–0.868) and 0.879 (95% CI = 0.872–0.920) for the self-reported and proxy versions, respectively. The convergent validity criteria were met for the self-reported and proxy versions (Spearman's rho = 0.466–0.751; P < 0.001 and Spearman's rho = 0.410–0.551; P < 0.001, respectively). Test-retest reliability assessment for the total score and Items 1, 2, 3, and 4 in both versions showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of ≥0.7. ConclusionsThe Portuguese self-reported and proxy versions of ChIMES were considered to be culturally adapted, valid, and reliable for Brazilian pediatric patients ranging from an age of one month to 18 years and were named ChIMES-BR.