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Development and initial evaluation of electronic Children's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale (eChIMES) for children with cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

We previously developed a pediatric-specific measure of oral mucositis named the Children's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale (ChIMES). Availability as an electronic version may improve self-report response rates. The objectives were to develop an electronic version of ChIMES (eChIMES) and to determine whether the instrument is easy to use, understandable, and suitable for measuring mucositis among children and adolescents with cancer.

Methods

Development of eChIMES was on an iPad; the initial version was piloted with ten children to refine instructions for use and presentation. A crosssectional study then was conducted and included English-speaking children and adolescents 8–18 years of age receiving active treatment for cancer. Participants were shown eCHIMES and were asked to complete it. Questions elicited whether they found eChIMES easy or difficult to use, easy or difficult to understand, and suitable (a good way) for children with cancer to monitor mucositis. Outcomes were rated using five-point ordinal scales.

Results

Following the development and initial refinement of eChIMES, 40 children were enrolled. Median age was 12.4 (range, 8.0 to 17.8) years. The instrument was found to be easy or very easy to use and understood by 40 (100 %) and 38 (95 %) participants, respectively. The application was considered suitable or very suitable for measuring mucositis by 37 (92 %).

Conclusions

We found that eChIMES was easy to use, understandable, and suitable for monitoring mucositis among children with cancer. Incorporation into clinical trials may improve the ability to compare and evaluate interventions for mucositis.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an operating grant from the Garron Family Cancer Centre. LS is supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. We also acknowledge Nick van Weerdenberg for his excellent assistance in the production of the application.

Conflict of interest

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 123 Edward Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E2, Canada

    Deborah Tomlinson, Tanya Hesser & Lillian Sung

  2. Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Anne-Marie Maloney, Sandra Ross, Ahmed Naqvi & Lillian Sung

Authors
  1. Deborah Tomlinson
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  2. Tanya Hesser
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  3. Anne-Marie Maloney
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  4. Sandra Ross
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  5. Ahmed Naqvi
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  6. Lillian Sung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lillian Sung.

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Tomlinson, D., Hesser, T., Maloney, AM. et al. Development and initial evaluation of electronic Children's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale (eChIMES) for children with cancer. Support Care Cancer 22, 115–119 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1953-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1953-x

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