Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index.

Abstract

This study was designed to adapt the Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptoms Experience Index (BCLE-SEI) to the Spanish language (BCLE-SEI-Es) and to assess its psychometric properties in Spanish-speaking women diagnosed with breast cancer. 286 breast cancer survivors were recruited. Study measured demographic and medical data and the BCLE-SEI. Reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability (n = 29) after an interval of two weeks. A robust principal components analysis was conducted to explore the dimensions of each BCLE-SEI-Es subtest. Discriminant power of the BCLE-SEI was assessed through a non-parametric test evaluating score differences between non-lymphedema and lymphedema patients. A cut-off point was established via a ROC curve. Cronbach’s alpha: all scales had a value above 0.9. Test-retest reliability: Correlations between questionnaire administrations were above 0.7. The first and second subtests showed a good fit to a unidimensional and two-factor structure, respectively. Lymphedema patients score significantly higher in all BCLE-SEI scales (p < 0.001). A cut-off point was established to predict a possible lymphedema case. The BCLE-SEI-Es is a valid, reliable tool for assessing and identifying the presence of lymphedema among breast cancer survivors and assessing its impact on the physical, functional, psychological and emotional aspects.

Data for the Spanish adaptation of Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index (BCLE SEI Esp)

“…The data was collected, using a cross-sectional design, from patients recruited from the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA) in Oviedo, Spain between October 2018 and June 2020 [1] . Is important to highlight that breast cancer-related lymphedema is a chronic complication that occurs in one of five patients who have undergone breast cancer treatment [2] .…”