Marathi translation, linguistic validation, and cross-cultural adaptation of M.D. Anderson dysphagia inventory in patients of head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Background: Self-reported treatment outcome is a better way to measure patient's quality of life (QOL). This study was undertaken to translate dysphagia-specific QOL questionnaire M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) in Marathi language, its linguistic validation, and cross-cultural adaptation in patients of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Methods: After Institutional ethics committee approval, MDADI was translated into Marathi with prior permission from the author of original English questionnaire (AOEQ). The translation procedure included - two forward translations (English to Marathi), formation of first intermediate Marathi translation (FIMT), two back translations (BT) (Marathi to English) of FIMT and interim Marathi translation (IMT) formation. Second intermediate Marathi translation (SIMT) was prepared after face validation of IMT by Marathi subject expert. Pretesting of SIMT was done in 10 patients of HNSCC for linguistic validation and cross-cultural adaptation. After incorporating the patients' suggestions, final Marathi translation was formulated and forwarded to primary author for approval. Results: The grammatically acceptable and conceptually equivalent face-validated SIMT was prepared and given to HNSCC patients. The questionnaire was well understood and unobjectionable reflecting its linguistic validity and cross-cultural adaptation. Some of the patients suggested changes in a few words which were then rectified, rechecked with BT, and the final Marathi translated questionnaire was prepared. The credit statement for AOEQ was used as a footnote in the translated questionnaire. Conclusion: Marathi translation of MDADI is well accepted and comprehensible. It can be used for future studies.

Subjective and perceptive assessment of speech/voice and swallowing function before and after radiation therapy in patients of head-and-neck squamous cell cancer.

Aim: To prospectively assess subjective and perceptive speech/voice and swallowing function before and after radiation therapy (RT) in patients of head-and-neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Materials and Methods: The study cohort comprised eligible consecutive HNSCC patients planned for curative RT from April 2018 to July 2018 who consented for the study. Prospective evaluation of speech/voice and swallowing function was done before and after RT. For subjective and perceptive evaluation of speech/voice, speech handicap index (SHI) and Grade, Roughness, Asthenia, Breathiness, and Strain (GRABS) Scale was used, respectively. For subjective and perceptive evaluation of swallowing, M D Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and Performance Status Scale for head and neck (PSSHN) were used, respectively. All patients were taught speech/voice and swallowing exercises before RT. Statistical analysis was performed using SYSTAT version-12 (Cranes software, Bengaluru). Results: The study cohort comprised 30 patients of HNSCC with a median age of 57 years and male-to-female ratio of 4:1. The most common subsite was the oral cavity (43.33%) and a majority (76.66%) presented in the locally advanced stage. Post-RT there was significant improvement in speech/voice function (SHI P = 0.0006, GRABS score P = 0.003). Perceptive assessment of swallowing function by PSSHN showed significant improvement (P = 0.0032), but subjective assessment by MDADI showed no significant (P = 0.394) improvement until the first follow-up. Conclusion: Speech/voice function improved significantly after radiotherapy when combined with rehabilitation exercises. Swallowing function did not improve till the first follow-up. Future studies with the large number of patients and long-term follow-up are needed to document the changes in organ function.