Cindy S Tofthagen

Publications (2)3.76 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: usf.edu

  Article: Development and psychometric evaluation of the chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy assessment tool.

  Cindy S Tofthagen, Susan C McMillan, Kevin E Kip
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  ABSTRACT: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can be a debilitating and dose-limiting adverse effect of chemotherapy. Comprehensive self-report tools for CIPN are needed for research and clinical practice. The purpose of this psychometric study was to describe the development and evaluate the reliability and validity of a new self-report tool designed to measure CIPN, the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool (CIPNAT). One hundred sixty-seven patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy with paclitaxel, docetaxel, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin completed the CIPNAT. Content validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency reliability were assessed. Content validity index was very acceptable at 0.95. Convergent validity data were provided by correlation with a measure of the same concept (r = 0.83, P < .001), and differences between contrasting groups (t = 7.66, P < .001) provided evidence of discriminant validity. High test-retest correlations (r = 0.92, P < .001), Cronbach α (α = .95), and significant item-to-total correlations ranging from 0.38 to 0.70 provided evidence of reliability. Results provide evidence of the validity and reliability of the CIPNAT, which can be used for comprehensive assessment of CIPN. Use of the CIPNAT in research may lead to a better understanding of CIPN and guide nurses in developing and testing of interventions to relieve suffering and enhance quality of life for patients with CIPN.
  Cancer nursing 01/2011; 34(4):E10-20. · 1.88 Impact Factor
• Article: Pain, neuropathic symptoms, and physical and mental well-being in persons with cancer.

  Cindy S Tofthagen, Susan C McMillan
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  ABSTRACT: Neuropathic pain is present in at least 25-40% of people with cancer pain and is thought to be more difficult to control than other types of cancer related pain. The purpose of this study was to explore differences in the experience of cancer patients who describe their pain using neuropathic descriptors compared to those who do not. A secondary analysis of data from 234 outpatients from a large NCI designated cancer center in west, central Florida was conducted to identify differences in pain, pain interference, symptoms, health related quality of life, and depression between the two groups. Patients with numbness, tingling, or electric-like sensations reported higher levels of current pain (p= .001), pain at its worst (p= .001), pain on average (p= .019), pain at its least (p= .008), and pain interference (p< .001). They reported problems with dizziness/lightheadedness significantly more often (p=.004) and also reported more severe problems with concentration (p=.047), poorer physical (p=.019) and mental health (p=.024), although no differences in depressive symptoms were found. The results of this study indicate that cancer patients with numbness, tingling, or electric-like sensations have significantly higher levels of pain and pain interference, and lower health related quality of life than do patients without these symptoms. These results highlight the ongoing need for research evaluating methods of treating neuropathic pain; education regarding assessment and management of neuropathic pain; and aggressive efforts to relieve neuropathic pain in oncology settings.
  Cancer nursing 11/2010; 33(6):436-44. · 1.88 Impact Factor