Validation of the Japanese oral symptom assessment scale (OSAS-J) in patients with advanced cancer

PURPOSE: Oral symptoms are common in patients with advanced cancer. The aim of this study was to translate the Oral Symptom Assessment Scale (OSAS) into Japanese and then validate the translated questionnaire. METHODS: Translation of the original (English version) OSAS into Japanese was performed following the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Guideline Translation Policy. Participants with advanced cancer then completed the Japanese translated OSAS (OSAS-J), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and the associated oral health module (EORTC QLQ-OH15). Associations between the results from the Japanese OSAS and the EORTC QLQ-C30 / EORTC QLQ-OH15 were determined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. RESULTS: One hundred advanced cancer patients were recruited, and 97 completed all of the assessments. Ninety (92.9%) participants reported that one had at least one oral symptom on the OSAS-J. The median number of oral symptoms was 4 (range 0 to 18). Comparison between oral symptoms in the OSAS-J and the EORTC QLQ-OH15 revealed moderate and strong correlation. CONCLUSION: The OSAS was successfully translated into Japanese and validated in a study subjects of Japanese advanced cancer patients. The Japanese OSAS / OSAS-J should help clinicians better identify oral problems amongst their advanced cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) with reference number: UMIN000048749 on August 24, 2022.