Development of the Japanese Version of the Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Background The Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation (PACT) is a validated instrument for evaluating psychosocial risk factors in transplant candidates. Objectives This study examined reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the PACT (J-PACT). Methods PACT is a clinician-rated scale consisting of an initial rating, 8 subscales, and a final rating. J-PACT was developed through a translation and back-translation procedure. Seventy adult patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant between April 2009 and December 2013 received retrospective J-PACT ratings based on medical records. Interrater reliability and concurrent validity with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Profile of Mood Status (POMS) scores were assessed. Results Interrater reliability for each J-PACT item was generally high, ranging from 0.53 (drug and alcohol use)–0.93 (support stability). The concurrent validity analyses revealed the following significant relationships ( p < 0.05). Higher support stability was associated with lower HADS depression ( p = 0.02), POMS anger ( p = 0.001), POMS fatigue ( p = 0.03), and POMS confusion ( p = 0.01) scores. Higher support availability was associated with lower POMS anger scores ( p = 0.01). More suitable personality was associated with lower HADS anxiety ( p = 0.04) and HADS depression ( p = 0.048) scores. Better scores on lifestyle factors and alcohol use were both associated with lower POMS confusion scores ( p = 0.01, 0.04, respectively). Better final rating was associated with lower HADS anxiety ( p = 0.03) and HADS depression ( p = 0.02) scores. Conclusion J-PACT was reliable and valid, although further study is needed to confirm these findings.