MDASI Traditional Chinese Medicine Module
Integrative medicine techniques, such as those found in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are increasingly being utilized by those who treat cancer patients and those who conduct cancer research. As a part of cancer care, TCM may be administered alone or in combination with conventional therapies. Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment with TCM agents requires a validated assessment questionnaire with appropriate, relevant symptom items.
The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for traditional Chinese medicine (MDASI-TCM) is a patient-reported outcomes assessment tool designed to measure symptoms experienced by patients with cancer who opt for TCM.
The MDASI-TCM is a treatment-specific MDASI module. Along with the core MDASI’s 13 symptom items and 6 interference items, the MDASI-TCM also assesses 7 symptoms specific to Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches.
| Core MDASI Symptoms | TCM Symptoms | MDASI Interference |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Sweating | Relations with other people |
| Fatigue | Feeling cold | Enjoyment of life |
| Nausea | Constipation | Mood |
| Disturbed sleep | Coughing | Walking |
| Distress (feeling upset) | Palpitations (racing heartbeat) | Activity |
| Shortness of breath | Heat in the palms or soles of the feet | Work (including housework) |
| Difficulty remembering | Bitter taste in the mouth | |
| Lack of appetite | ||
| Drowsiness | ||
| Dry mouth | ||
| Sadness | ||
| Vomiting | ||
| Numbness/tingling |
Order the MDASI-TCM
MDASI-TCM Features
- Purpose: To assess the severity of multiple symptoms related to TCM and the impact of these symptoms on daily functioning
- Population: Patients with symptoms caused by TCM
- Assessment areas: Severity of multiple symptoms and the impact of symptoms on daily functioning during the last 24 hours
- Method: Self-report or interview with research staff; paper-and-pencil or electronic data entry*
- Time required: Five minutes or less
- Scoring: Please see the MDASI User Guide
- Reliability: Cronbach alpha reliability ranges from 0.88 to 0.91
*Electronic data capture offers several benefits:
- Allows symptom monitoring when the patient is away from the hospital
- Is convenient for patients, who can choose web access, personalized patient portals, or smartphones to access questionnaires
- Minimizes missing data, especially in longitudinal studies
- Provides accurate, real-time symptom data at expected time points
- Generates immediate feedback, potentially allowing caregivers to address severe symptoms more effectively
MDASI-TCM 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 |
|---|---|
| English | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | |
| Chinese (Traditional) |
MDASI User's Guide
In response to the US Food and Drug Administration's 2009 guidance for the pharmaceutical industry on the use of patient-reported outcomes measures in medical product development to support labeling claims, we have prepared a MDASI User Guide to document the development and psychometric properties of the MDASI and its modules. 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-TCM References
Validation
Li Z, Shi Q, Liu M, et al. Validation and application of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MDASI-TCM). J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2017(52):48-57, 2017.
Zhao Y, Wang XS, Li PP. Investigation of common symptoms of cancer and reliability analysis. Chin J Integr Med 13(3):195-199, 2007.
Clinical Application
Asiimwe JB, Nagendrappa PB, Jatho A, et al. Differences in symptom severity and quality of life among patients with cancer using conventional therapies with/without herbal medicines in Uganda: a cross-sectional study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 24(9):3195-3205, 2023.
Xu Y, Wang XS, Chen Y, et al. A phase II randomized controlled trial of renshen yangrong tang herbal extract granules for fatigue reduction in cancer survivors. J Pain Symptom Manage 59(5):966-973, 2020.
Xue D, Han S, Jiang S, et al. Comprehensive geriatric assessment and Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention benefit symptom control in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Med Oncol 32(4):114, 2015.
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
...and all 6 MDASI interference items
general activity, mood, work, relations with others, walking, enjoyment of life
Using the MDASI-TCM, whether in practice or as an outcome measure in a clinical trial, can help TCM practitioners maximize treatment effectiveness and lessen patient suffering.
Xin Shelley Wang, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor, Symptom Research