Comparison of Simple-Summated Scoring and Toxicity Index Scoring of Symptom Bother in the NSABP B-30 Clinical Trial

Abstract Background Level of symptom burden for cancer patients can be summarized using simple-summated scoring multiple patient-reported symptoms. The Toxicity Index (TI) is an alternative that has been used primarily to summarize clinician-reported toxicities. Objective To compare the TI with 28 Methods This a secondary analysis longitudinal data from clinical trial women stage 2 or 3 breast cancer: baseline (n = 2156) and 6 months later 1764). Study participants completed 28-item Breast Cancer Prevention Trial checklist assessing level bother in past 7 days four criterion items general health overall quality life. Results Associations cancer-related symptoms life tended larger than correlations summary For example, Spearman correlation change was − 0.38 score 0.23 TI. Conclusion findings suggest differential weighting yield similar results. Implications Practice Clinicians use rather more complicated algorithms obtain indication among patients.