Instruments to measure anxiety in children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

We identified 14 different multi-item and 13 different single-item anxiety measurement instruments that have been used in pediatric cancer or HSCT. Only three multi-item and two single-item instruments were identified as being reliable and valid among pediatric cancer or HSCT patients and would therefore be appropriate to measure anxiety in this population.

Severity, change over time, and risk factors of anxiety in children with cancer depend on anxiety instrument used

“…We recently conducted a systematic review of instruments used to measure anxiety in children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy or undergoing HSCT . We identified 14 different multi‐item and 13 different single‐item anxiety measurement instruments that have been used in pediatric cancer or HSCT .…”

“…We recently conducted a systematic review of instruments used to measure anxiety in children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy or undergoing HSCT . We identified 14 different multi‐item and 13 different single‐item anxiety measurement instruments that have been used in pediatric cancer or HSCT . Review of identified instruments and application of the COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist, which aids in evaluation of the methodological quality of studies on the measurement properties of health measurement instruments, or guiding questions such as those put forth by Coster could be considered as a next step to aid in selection of an anxiety measurement instrument for use in this population.…”

“…Three instruments measuring self‐reported anxiety were selected based on their previous published use in a pediatric oncology population, adequate psychometric properties, brief nature, and ease of electronic administration . These instruments were the Pediatric QoL Inventory (PedsQL) 3.0 Acute Cancer Module, the Pediatric Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Short‐Form (SF) v1.1‐Anxiety, and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC)—10‐item.…”

Corticosteroid use endpoints in neuro-oncology: Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Working Group

“…Additionally, there is a lack of well-defined and reliable pediatric COA tools in the pediatric neurooncology population, given the heterogeneity in developmental abilities and requirements for age-defined instruments. However, tools such as the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 69 are increasingly being incorporated as part of pediatric evaluations, [70][71][72][73][74] and several pediatric instruments are under development. Their use in assessing response in pediatric patients is encouraged although not required at present.…”

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“…State trait anxiety inventory for children: It is the gold standard test for assessing anxiety. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-CH) differentiates between general tendency to anxious behaviour rooted in the personality and anxiety as a fleeting emotional state [7]. The test is designed to be used with primary or junior high school children and consists of two 20 item scales.…”