Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a distressing and disabling side effect of taxane-based treatment for breast cancer (BC). Unfortunately, our understanding of CIPN remains extremely limited, and it is not clear how to best assess it. The best self-report tools are those that were developed with patient input. This ensures that the content of the questions included have high “content validity” and measure what they are supposed to measure. Initial content development for several CIPN measures involved interviewing patients and clinicians. However, the use of a cognitive interview to optimize phrasing and content was used for only one measure. The self-report CIPN measure with the best content validity remains to be determined.

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The aim of this project is to compare the content validity of three self-report measures of CIPN through cognitive interviews with women who have received taxane-based chemotherapy for BC. Interviews were conducted at two points in the women's care trajectory and consisted of completing the questionnaires while at the same time “thinking out loud” while responding to the tools. 

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This study will help us to understand which of the existing measures has the best content validity for acute and chronic CIPN in BC patients. It may also serve as a foundation for revising existing measures to better reflect patients’ experiences.