Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale Research Articles

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale.

The chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale (CiTAS) is a reliable and valid instrument to comprehensively assess patients' taste alterations in an easy way. We aimed to translate it and test its psychometric properties among Chinese cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A convenience sample of 227 cancer patients were recruited in a tertiary cancer hospital in Beijing. The Chinese version of the CiTAS (C-CiTAS) was developed via rigorous translation methods. An exploratory structural equation model (ESEM) was used to test its construct validity. Correlations between the C-CiTAS scores and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 scores were calculated for convergent validity. The overall taste alterations scale (OTAS) score was used to test its discriminant validity. Reliabilities were also examined. The majority of patients undergoing chemotherapy experienced minor to mild taste alterations. The current factor analysis results using the ESEM supported the original factor solution of the CiTAS, and no item of the CiTAS was dropped. The C-CiTAS demonstrated good construct validity, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The Cronbach's alphas of the C-CiTAS were 0.900 for the overall scale and from 0.570 to 0.857 for the four subscales. Its test-retest reliability was 0.815 (p < 0.01). The Chinese version of the CiTAS is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate cancer patients' Chemotherapy-induced taste alterations in China.

Prospective assessment of taste impairment and nausea during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Dysgeusia and nausea are common side effects observed in head and neck cancer patients treated with either exclusive radiotherapy or combined modality treatment. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate dysgeusia, during treatment and follow-up, using the chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale (CiTAS), a metrics based on 18-items exploring three dimensions (quantitative and qualitative changes in taste perception, and diet-related issues) identified through a four-factor analysis: decline in basic taste, discomfort, phantogeusia-parageusia, and general taste alterations. Moreover, we scored, according to Common Toxicity Criteria Adverse Events, nausea and other treatment-related toxicities. Since, ginger is traditionally used to prevent and/or treat nausea and vomiting, we prophylactically employed a ginger-based supplement named Naumix/Naugin (Gamfarma, Milan, Italy), to potentially mitigate both nausea and taste impairment. Using the CiTAS scale, we highlighted a progressive increase in all dysgeusia dimensions, peaking at the VII week of treatment and a subsequent partial late recovery. In particular, we observed a recovery for discomfort, phantogeusia-parageusia, and general taste alterations at 6months. Grade 2 nausea, observed to be as low as 12.9% potentially due to the use of ginger, peaked at the III week of treatment. Finally, for patients experiencing nausea, the dysgeusia dimension of discomfort was also relevant.

The Validity and Reliability of Turkish Version of the Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS).

The study was aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS), and was conducted on adult patients receiving chemotherapy ( N = 184) in the Chemotherapy Unit and Hematology Clinic (Outpatient) of a university hospital between December 2013 and May 2014. The results showed that the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (.869) was satisfactory. The alpha value was .89 for the Decline in Basic Taste subscale, .70 for Discomfort subscale, .82 for Phantogeusia and Parageusia subscale, and .72 for General Taste Alterations subscale. The coefficients of the relationship between test-retest reliability results were significantly high ( r = .939, n = 28). The Turkish version of the CiTAS was a sufficient and suitable tool in evaluating the taste alterations associated with chemotherapy.

Italian validation of the Chemotherapy Induced Taste Alteration Scale

. Italian validation of the Chemotherapy Induced Taste Alteration Scale. Introdution. Taste alterations (TAs) are an underestimated side effect despite affecting 75% of chemo-radiotherapy patients. TAs may cause discomfort and food aversions up to loss of appetite and anorexia. The available instruments do not discriminate the different types of TAs. The aim of the study is to validate the Italian version of CiTAS, a 18-items scale that assesses specific TAs, symptoms of discomfort and their impact on patient nutrition. A convenience sample of 243 patients with chemotherapy-induced taste alterations were enrolled. Data were analyzed for item consistency using Cronbach alpha and construct validity using factor analysis. The factor analysis identified four dimensions that explained a total variance of 67%: decline in basic taste, discomfort, phantogeusia and parageusia, and general taste alterations. The scale showed good validity (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82). The CiTAS enabled the valid and reliable measurement of specific symptoms of chemotherapy-induced TAs. It can be used both as a clinical tool and in future studies to evaluate the effectiveness of specific TAs treatments.

Taste Alteration in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

This study is aimed to determine factors that affect conditions of patients receiving chemotherapy in terms of experienced taste alteration. In this descriptive study, 184 patients receiving chemotherapy were included in the sample. Data were collected during the period of December 2013 to May 2014 using "Patient Characteristics Identification Form" and "Chemotherapy-induced Taste Alteration Scale (CiTAS)." The data were analyzed using SPSS 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL, USA) statistical software in terms of number, percentage, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test. The mean age of the patients was 55.5±11.8 and 57.1% of them were female. The clinical diagnosis of the patients were most frequently breast cancer (n=46), colorectal cancer (n=45), and lung cancer (n=25). Furthermore, 37.5% of the patients were in clinical stage II; 15.8% of the patients received paclitaxel+herceptin and 14.1% received gemcitabine+cisplatin chemotherapy protocols. Data demonstrated significant differences in mean scores (p<0.05) taken from "Decline in Basic Taste" and "Phantogeusia and Parageusia" subscales with patients with or without xerostomia. There were significant differences in the average scores of the subscales between those with and without a sore mouth "Discomfort" and "General taste alterations" (p<0.05). It has been established that patients receiving chemotherapy experience substantial alteration in taste by exposure of different subscales of CiTAS. Analysis of scores collected from different subscales of CiTAS with respect to sociodemographic and pathological differences showed that patients with xerostomia and sore mouth experienced more severe taste alterations.

Development and Validation of a Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Alteration Scale

To develop an instrument to assess the specific symptoms of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations. Cross-sectional study. Two outpatient chemotherapy centers in Kanto, Japan. Convenience sample of 214 adult patients with chemotherapy-induced taste alterations. Items on the chemotherapy-induced taste alteration scale (CiTAS) were developed by a qualitative study of patients with taste alterations, and the content validity of each item was assessed by a panel of specialized oncology nurses. Data were analyzed for item consistency using Cronbach alpha and construct validity using factor analysis. Taste alterations, symptoms of discomfort, and impact of taste alterations on daily life. An 18-item scale was developed with four dimensions identified through factor analysis: decline in basic taste, discomfort, phantogeusia and parageusia, and general taste alterations. The scale demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.9) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.94, p < 0.001, n = 28), as well as good validity, which was indicated by its strong correlation with a visual analog scale of the impact of taste alterations on daily life (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and by negative correlations with Short Form-8 quality-of-life measures (physical component summary, r = -0.33; mental component summary, r = -0.47). The CiTAS enabled valid, reliable measurement of specific symptoms of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations. The CiTAS has potential as a clinical tool and also could be used as a measure of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations in future studies. The CiTAS may help evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the symptoms of taste alterations, such as administering zinc and self-care strategies.