Psychometric Validation of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Dyspnoea-12 Questionnaire for Patients with Primary Lung Cancer.

Purpose: The simplified Chinese version of the Dyspnoea-12 Questionnaire (D-12) has not yet been translated and validated for patients with primary lung cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the simplified Chinese version of the D-12 for patients with primary lung cancer.

Methods

This study analysed the baseline data of a randomised controlled trial that used an inspiratory muscle training intervention for patients with thoracic malignancies. The original English version of the D-12 was translated into simplified Chinese according to standard instrument translation and adaptation procedures. The internal consistency reliability of the D-12 was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The convergent validity of the D-12 was evaluated by Spearman's correlation with the Borg CR-10 Scale, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Blood oxygen level, the 6-minute walk test distance, alcohol use, surgery type, cancer stage, exercise level, and educational background were identified to evaluate their discriminating performance.

Results

The analysis included 196 participants. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the full D-12 and its physical and emotional function subscales were 0.83, 0.74, and 0.92, respectively. Significantly positive associations were found between the D-12 scores and the Borg CR-10 Scale, the NRS, the HADS, and SGRQ scores (p < 0.01). The participants with insomnia (p < 0.01) and who did not use alcohol (p = 0.019) reported significantly higher D-12 total scores compared with their respective counterparts. The participants at different cancer stages (p < 0.01) and those who had undergone different surgeries (p = 0.033) reported significantly different D-12 total scores.

Conclusions

The D-12 simplified Chinese version demonstrated very good psychometric properties and high acceptability in patients with primary lung cancer.