Background and Context: Chemotherapy-induced taste alterations result in physiological and psychosocial changes in an individual. The demonstration of the presence of this problem using objective and subjective assessment tools allows better symptom control.
Aim: The present study was designed as a descriptive study to evaluate the validity and reliability of CiTAS in Turkey that is used in the subjective assessment of taste alterations associated with chemotherapy.
Strategy/Tactics: The CiTAS validity and reliability study was conducted on patients receiving chemotherapy (n=184) in the Chemotherapy Unit and Hematology Clinic (Outpatient) between December 2013 and May 2014.
The language was adapted to study validity and reliability of CiTAS. The validity of the scope of CiTAS was ensured by expert opinions. Cronbach’s alpha, corrective factor analysis, and test-retest were used to evaluate the validity and reliability
Outcomes/What was learned: In the CiTAS validity and reliability study, Cronbach’s alpha value of the scale was0.869. The alpha value was 0.89 for the decrease in basic taste subscale, 0.70 for discomfort subscale, 0.82 for phantogeusia and parageusia subscale, and 0.72 for general taste alterations subscale. The coefficients of the relationship between test-retest reliability results were significantly high (r: 0.939, n:28).
CiTAS appears to be a valid and reliable tool in the assessment of the symptoms and symptom management in taste alterations associated with chemotherapy. The evaluation of the symptoms using a measurement tool will contribute to the implementation of evidence-based symptom management