Modification of existing patient-reported outcome measures: qualitative development of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MDASI-MPM)

PurposeMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer of the lung pleura. The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure of symptom burden, the combined impact of disease-related and treatment-related symptoms on functioning. Validated PRO measures may require modification for use in specific study populations. We sought to modify the MDASI for patients with MPM and create a fit-for-purpose symptom-burden measure for use in a clinical trial, according to US Food and Drug Administration guidance on PRO utilization to support labeling claims.MethodsA literature review for MPM symptoms was conducted. Patients with MPM were qualitatively interviewed about experiences of disease and treatment. Descriptive analysis identified symptoms and interference with functioning to define MPM-related symptom burden. An expert panel rated the relevance of identified symptoms to patients with MPM. Patients who received the investigational drug in a previous Phase I study were interviewed for drug-specific symptoms.ResultsLiterature review and interviews of 20 patients identified 31 MPM-related symptoms. A conceptual model of MPM-related symptom burden was developed. After expert-panel relevance review, five MPM-specific items and the 13 core MDASI symptoms met criteria for inclusion in a provisional MDASI-MPM for psychometric testing. Interviews with six patients identified six drug-specific symptoms; three were mentioned by multiple patients. Of these three, one was not in the core MDASI.ConclusionsThe MDASI-MPM has established content validity and, with the addition of one symptom item, is ready for psychometric testing as fit-for-purpose for a clinical trial of an investigational agent.