Title : Development and validation of the taste alteration scale for children receiving chemotherapy
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Cancer is rarely observed in childhood, and its incidence varies at the rate of 0.5-4.6%. Research results on the effects of various chemotherapy agents and the developed treatment protocol increase the cancer survival rate. During and after the cancer treatment, children experience many complicated symptoms and problems. Taste alteration (TA) (dysgeusia) is one of the most common and frequently ignored side effects of chemotherapy. To develop the Taste Alteration Scale for Children with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy (TAS-CrC).
Purpose: To develop the Taste Alteration Scale for Children with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy (TAS-CrC).
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: This study is a descriptive and cross-sectional type. The study was conducted between May and September 2016; at child hematology clinics and outpatient clinics of six hospitals. One hundred sixty five children with cancer who were followed in the clinics and outpatient clinics of the mentioned hospitals between May-September 2016 and received chemotherapy constituted the population of the study. Ninety-five children with cancer who were followed in the clinic and outpatient clinic between the dates specified and met the study criteria constituted the sample.
Findings: It is observed that the correlation values of the item analysis of TAS-CrC vary between 0.49-0.86. One sub-dimension of the scale was determined by explanatory factor analysis. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was determined to be 0.88. It was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between the test-retest (first and second application) of the scale (p<0.01).
Conclusions: According to the data obtained from the study, it was determined that the TAS-CrC was a valid and reliable scale.
