Abstract OT3-19-01: Validation study of the Emoji scale in evaluating patient reported outcomes for breast cancer patients
Authors: Suzuki Yoko , Taira Naruto , Kajiwara Yukiko , Kochi Mariko , Iwamoto Takayuki , Ikeda Hirokuni , Shien Tadahiko , Doihara Hiroyoshi , Kikawa Yuichiro , Uemura Yukari 
Published: March 2020

Background: Patient reported outcomes (PROs) have been increasingly important in breast cancer treatment. The questionnaires to evaluate PROs require high response compliance, simplicity, and friendliness. Recently, the communication with Emojis has become friendliness because of the development of social networking services and electronic devices. Therefore, we developed the Emoji scale, a novel indicator to evaluate PROs. Furthermore, two-step validation pilot studies were planned to examine the reliability of the Emoji scale for breast cancer patients at a single center. Pilot 1(Step 1)

Aims: To evaluate the content validity (the primary endpoint), concurrent validity and test retest reliability of the Emoji scales (secondary endpoints). Eligibility criteria: (1) Patients with stage 0-III breast cancer. (2) Patients who have been over 1 year since the end of the initial treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy or (3) hormone receptor positive patients who have been over 1 year from the start of the endocrine therapy. (4) Patients aged &gt;20 years who understand Japanese.

Methods: The participants will complete the PRO Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) and Emoji scale questionnaires regarding 18 cancer related symptoms twice. First, both questionnaires will be completed in a consulting room while the staff will track the time required for completion of each questionnaire. Thereafter, the patients will be asked if there are any difficult or confused items. Second, both questionnaires will be completed again at home 7 days later. The number of planned participants is 100. Statistical analyses: Content validity will be evaluated by categorizing the comments from participants, and the nature of problems will be determined. The correlation coefficient between the PRO-CTCAE and Emoji scale scores will evaluate the concurrent validity. For the test-retest reliability, the kappa statistic between each scale at different time will be used. We will compare the time required for completion with using the t-test. Pilot 2(Step2)

Aims: To evaluate the responsiveness (the primary endpoint), the effect size, the concurrent validity and comparison of the average score between participants with high and low Performance Status. (the secondary endpoints). Eligibility criteria: (1) Patients with stage 0-IV breast cancer who are scheduled to start chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. (2) Patients aged &gt;20 years who understand Japanese.

Methods: The participants will complete both the PRO-CTCAE and Emoji scales before they start a new breast cancer treatment (T1). Those will comprise chemotherapy (Cohort A: anthracycline based regimens, Cohort B: docetaxel based regimens, Cohort C: paclitaxel based regimens, Cohort E: eribulin based regimens, and Cohort F: capecitabine/S1 based regimens) or endocrine therapy (Cohort D: tamoxifen/aromatase inhibitor). After several weeks, the participants will complete the same questionnaires again (T2). This time interval will depend on the therapy, and some participants will be complete once again the questionnaires (T3) a few weeks after T2. The number of planned participants is 30 in each cohort. Statistical analyses: Responsiveness will be evaluated by the correlation coefficient between the change from the baseline to second or third score of each scale. The effect size of the Emoji scale will be determined by the difference between the average score of the second or third and that of the baseline divided by the standard deviation of the baseline score. The correlation coefficient for each scale at each time will evaluate the concurrent validity at each time. A comparison of the average scores between PS will be performed using the t-test.

Citation Format: Yoko Suzuki, Naruto Taira, Yukiko Kajiwara, Mariko Kochi, Takayuki Iwamoto, Hirokuni Ikeda, Tadahiko Shien, Hiroyoshi Doihara, Yuichiro Kikawa, Yukari Uemura. Validation study of the Emoji scale in evaluating patient reported outcomes for breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-19-01.