Translation and validation of myeloproliferative neoplasm-symptom assessment form (MPN-SAF)-total symptom score (MPN-SAF TSS) Filipino version.

Flordeluna Z MESINA; Joy Ann V DE CASTRO; Marissa M ALEJANDRIA

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Translation and validation of myeloproliferative neoplasm-symptom assessment form (MPN-SAF)-total symptom score (MPN-SAF TSS) Filipino version.

Author: Flordeluna Z. MESINA ¹ ; Joy Ann V. DE CASTRO ² ; Marissa M. ALEJANDRIA ³
Author Information

1. Section of Clinical Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
2. Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Region 06, Philippines
3. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
Publication Type:Journal Article, Original
Keywords: Myeloproliferative Neoplasm; Symptom Assessment Form; Total Symptom Score; Filipino; Validation
MeSH: Human; Translations
From: Acta Medica Philippina 2025;59(Early Access 2025):1-8
CountryPhilippines
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Myeloproliferative disorders are characterized by symptoms that can potentially impair the quality of life of our Filipino patients. The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form-Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS) is used to determine symptoms at baseline and during treatment. A validated Filipino version of this questionnaire would be a helpful tool in assessing the burden of symptoms of Filipino patients with MPN. Understanding the symptom burden and symptom experience of patients with MPN is needed in developing a comprehensive wholistic management plan that addresses the physical and emotional aspects of a chronic disease such as MPN. This study aimed to translate the MPN-SAF TSS to the Filipino language.
METHODS
Translation, validation, and reliability testing of the MPN-SAF TSS was done following the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines for linguistic translation and validation.
RESULTS
No major discrepancies were found on forward and backward translation of the MPN-SAF TSS tool. The 0-10 scoring scale (where 0 = absent/as good as it can be and 10 = worst imaginable/daily/as bad as it can be) was deemed appropriate and was retained. Content and face validity as evaluated by Filipino hematologists showed that majority of the translated questions were relevant. Some words were further improved according to their valid recommendations. Ten MPN patients voluntarily answered the updated Filipino version of the questionnaire for face validity and cognitive debriefing was done to further refine the translation according to the patient’s perspective. The back translation was identical to the original versions of MPN-SAF TSS.
Validity and reliability testing of the revised and translated MPN-SAF TSS among 30 patients with MPN demonstrated that the MPN-SAF TSS Filipino version was conceptually equivalent with the English version, with good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.89); excellent reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.98 and convergent validity of r=0.77.
CONCLUSION
The Filipino version of the MPN-SAF TSS was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable tool in evaluating the symptom burden of Filipino patients with MPN.