Abstract
Background: The clinical assessment of radioiodine -induced sialadenitis is relied on the observer-defined toxicity grading model. However, this model has significant limitations, the major one being the lack of systematic assessment based on objective criteria. The main aim of this study was the development and testing of an assessment tool which could examine the severity of post irradiation sialadenitis.Methods: The development of the Sialadenitis Assessment Tool proceeded through three phases. The first and second phase included a literature review and the development of the tool which derived from the review, respectively. The third phase involved a pilot testing of the Assessment Tool to a sample of 34 patients undergoing I131. The assessment was carried out by two independent HCPs, pre- and post-radioiodine therapy. The results of the assessment tool were compared to other scales, including the DIRIX and EORTC H&N35.Results: The Cohen’s kappa test, suggested that the Sialadenitis Assessment Tool (SAT) is a reliable tool for the assessment of sialadenitis (Cohen’s K =1). The concurrent and internal validity tests, showed a tendency of association with most variables (p <0.001) in the DIRIX s and EORTC QLQ-HN35 scales.Conclusions: Preliminary evidence show that Sialadenitis Assessment Tool is a valid and reliable tool to assess radioiodine-induced sialadenitis in patients undergoing I131 therapy post thyroidectomy.
The development of the clinical assessment tool “Health and Everyday Functioning in Young Children with Cancer”
