MDASI Brain Tumor Module
The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for brain tumor (MDASI-BT) is a site-specific module. Along with the core MDASI’s 13 symptom items and 6 interference items, the MDASI-BT also assesses 9 symptoms specific to brain tumors:
- weakness on one side of the body
- difficulty understanding
- difficulty speaking
- seizures
- difficulty concentrating
- problems with vision
- change in appearance
- change in bowel pattern (diarrhea or constipation)
- irritability
Order the MDASI-BT
MDASI-BT Features
- Purpose: To assess the severity of multiple brain tumor-related symptoms and the impact of these symptoms on daily functioning
- Population: Patients with symptoms caused by brain tumor and its treatment
- Assessment areas: Severity of multiple symptoms and the impact of symptoms on daily functioning during the last 24 hours
- Method: Self-report; paper-and-pencil form or tablet PC (self-administered or via interview), or telephone-based interactive voice response (IVR) system
- Time required: Five minutes
- Scoring: Please see the MDASI User's Guide
- Reliability: Cronbach alpha reliability ranges from 0.67 to 0.91
MDASI-BT Language Versions
Click on a linked language to view a sample in PDF format.
Don't see a language you need? Contact us at symptomresearch@mdanderson.org.
| Psychometrically and Linguistically Validated | Linguistically Validated |
|---|---|
| Danish English Japanese |
Afrikaans Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional - Hong Kong) Croatian Dutch French French (Canada) German Hebrew Italian Korean Polish Portuguese (Brazil) Portuguese (Portugal) Russian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish |
MDASI User's Guide
In response to the FDA's 2009 guidance for the pharmaceutical industry on the use of PRO measures in medical product development to support labeling claims, we have prepared a MDASI User's Guide to document the development and psychometric properties of the MDASI and its modules, including the MDASI-BT. The User Guide addresses the recommendations in the FDA guidance and establishes the MDASI's adequacy as a measure to support medical product claims.
Selected MDASI-BT References
Validation
Armstrong TS, Mendoza T, Gning I, et al. Validation of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT). J Neurooncol 80(1): 27-35, 2006.
Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Acquaye A, et al. Impact of recall period on primary brain tumor patient's self-report of symptoms. Neurooncol Pract 1(2): 55-63, 2014.
Armstrong TS, Cohen M, Eriksen L, Cleeland C. Content validity of self-report measurement instruments: an illustration from the development of the brain tumor module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. Oncol Nurs Forum 32(3): 669-676, 2005.
Cleeland CS, Mendoza TR, Wang XS, et al. Assessing Symptom Distress in Cancer: The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. Cancer 2000; 89:1634-1646.
Vera-Bolanos E, Acquaye A, Mendoza T, et al. Evaluation of the utility of the EQ-5D and MDASI-BT in primary brain tumor patients [abstract]. Society for Neuro-Oncology 20th Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day, San Antonio TX, Nov 19-22, 2015. Neuro-oncol 17(Suppl 5): v193, 2015; Abstract #QOL-25.
Tanaka S, Sato I, Takahashi M, et al. Validation study of the Japanese version of M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT) [abstract]. Society for Neuro-Oncology 20th Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day, San Antonio TX, Nov 19-22, 2015. Neuro-oncol 17(Suppl 5): v193, 2015; Abstract #QOL-24.
Gning I, Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Acquaye A, Vera-Bolanos E, Mendoza TR, Gilbert MR, Cleeland CS. Validation of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT) Caregiver version. [abstract]. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat, Houston TX, May 24, 2012.
Clinical Application
Pollom EL, Fujimoto D, Wynne J, et al. Phase 1/2 trial of 5-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery with 5-mm margins with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide in newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma: health-related quality of life results. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 98(1): 123-130, 2017.
Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Acquaye AA, et al. The symptom burden of primary brain tumors: evidence for a core set of tumor- and treatment-related symptoms. Neuro Oncol 18(2): 252-260, 2016.
Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Wang M, et al. Net clinical benefit analysis of radiation therapy oncology group 0525: a phase III trial comparing conventional adjuvant temozolomide with dose-intensive temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Clin Oncol 31(32): 4076-4084, 2013.
Lin L, Chiang HH, Acquaye AA, et al. Uncertainty, mood states, and symptom distress in patients with primary brain tumors: analysis of a conceptual model using structural equation modeling. Cancer 119(15): 2796-2806, 2013.
Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Gning I, et al. Congruence of primary brain tumor patient and caregiver symptom report. Cancer 118(20): 5026-5037, 2012.
Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Gning I, et al. The impact of symptom interference using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT) on prediction of recurrence in primary brain tumor patients. Cancer 117(14): 3222-3228, 2011.
Armstrong TS, Gning I, Mendoza TR, et al. Clinical utility of the MDASI-BT in patients with brain metastases. J Pain Symptom Manage 37(3): 331-340, 2009.
Every MDASI Module Contains...
All 13 MDASI core symptoms
pain, fatigue, nausea, disturbed sleep, distress, shortness of breath, difficulty remembering, lack of appetite, drowsiness, dry mouth, sadness, vomiting, numbness/tingling
All 6 MDASI interference items
general activity, mood, work, relations with others, walking, enjoyment of life
Cancer patients with central nervous system tumors are a unique group because of the neurological nature of their symptoms, which affect their functional abilities, social interactions, and emotional well-being—and thus their quality of life.
Terri S. Armstrong, Ph.D., ANP-BC
Senior Investigator, NCI