MDASI Brain Tumor Module
The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for brain tumor (MDASI-BT) is a site-specific module. Use the MDASI-BT to assess the severity of symptoms experienced by patients with brain tumors and the interference with daily living caused by these symptoms.
Along with the core MDASI’s 13 symptom items and 6 interference items, the MDASI-BT also assesses 9 symptoms specific to brain tumors.
| Core MDASI Symptom Items | Brain Tumor Symptom Items | MDASI Interference Items |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Weakness on one side of body | Relations with other people |
| Fatigue | Difficulty understanding | Enjoyment of life |
| Nausea | Difficulty speaking | Mood |
| Disturbed sleep | Seizures | Walking |
| Distress (feeling upset) | Difficulty concentrating | Activity |
| Shortness of breath | Change in bowel pattern (diarrhea or constipation) | Work (including housework) |
| Difficulty remembering | Change in appearance | |
| Lack of appetite | Problems with vision | |
| Drowsiness | Irritability | |
| Dry mouth | ||
| Sadness | ||
| Vomiting | ||
| Numbness/tingling |
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 tumors and their treatment
- 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 0.67 to 0.91
View the MDASI-BT (click to enlarge)
MDASI-BT Language Translations
Don't see a language you need? Contact us at symptomresearch@mdanderson.org.
| Psychometrically and Linguistically Validated | Linguistically Validated |
|---|---|
| Danish | Afrikaans |
| English | Arabic* |
| Japanese | Bengali (in process) |
| Chinese (Simplified) | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | |
| Chinese (Traditional - Hong Kong) | |
| Croatian | |
| Dutch | |
| French | |
| French (Canada) | |
| German | |
| Hebrew* | |
| Hindi (in process) | |
| Italian | |
| Korean | |
| Marthi (in process) | |
| Polish | |
| Portuguese (Brazil) |
|
| Portuguese (Portugal) |
|
| Russian | |
| Spanish | |
| Swedish | |
| Tamil (in process) | |
| Thai | |
| Turkish |
* Arabic and Hebrew versions read right to left.
MDASI User Guide
In response to the 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, including the MDASI-AML/MDS. The User Guide addresses the recommendations in the FDA guidance and establishes the MDASI's adequacy as a measure to support medical product claims.
Request a copy of the MDASI User Guide.
Selected MDASI-BT References
Validation
Armstrong TS, Mendoza T, Gning I, et al. J Neurooncol 80(1): 27-35, 2006.
Piil K, Whisenant M, Mendoza T, et al. Neurooncol Pract 8(2):137-147, 2020.
Tanaka S, Sato I, Takahashi M, et al. Jpn J Clin Oncol 50(7):787-793, 2020.
Armstrong TS, Cohen M, Eriksen L, Cleeland C. Oncol Nurs Forum 32(3):669-676, 2005.
Cleeland CS, Mendoza TR, Wang XS, et al. Cancer 89:1634-1646, 2000.
Clinical Application
Brady K, Cohen AL. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. Online Oct 2, 2023.
Rogers JL, Vera E, Acquaye A, et al. Neurooncol Pract 8(4):460-474, 2021.
Wefel JS, Armstrong TS, Pugh SL, et al. Neuro Oncol 23(7):1125-1138, 2021.
Pollom EL, Fujimoto D, Wynne J, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 98(1): 123-130, 2017.
Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Wang M, et al. J Clin Oncol 31(32): 4076-4084, 2013.
Armstrong TS, Wefel JS, Gning I, et al. Cancer 118(20): 5026-5037, 2012.
Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Gning I, et al. Cancer 117(14): 3222-3228, 2011.
Armstrong TS, Gning I, Mendoza TR, et al. J Pain Symptom Manage 37(3): 331-340, 2009.
Methodology
Wang Y, Zhang J, Luo C, et al. Front Oncol 13:1153455, 2023.
Bergsneider BH, Vera E, Gal O, et al. Neurooncol Adv 5(1):vdac188, 2022.
Merrell RT, Simon KC, Martinez N, et al. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 5(3):625-634, 2021.
Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Acquaye AA, et al. Neuro Oncol 18(2): 252-260, 2016.
Armstrong TS, Vera-Bolanos E, Acquaye A, et al. Neurooncol Pract 1(2): 55-63, 2014.
Lin L, Chiang HH, Acquaye AA, et al. Cancer 119(15): 2796-2806, 2013.
Order the MDASI-BT
Did You Know?
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
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.
Senior Investigator, NCI
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Research Areas
Find out about the four types of research taking place at UT?MD Anderson.