Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to translate the Escala de Impactos da Mucosite Oral em Pacientes Oncológicos (EIMOPO) into Chinese and to assess the psychometric properties of the cross-culturally adapted version, thereby ensuring its reliability and validity. METHODS: A total of 473 patients with cancer who developed oral mucositis following radiotherapy/chemotherapy were recruited from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province between December 2024 and April 2025 using convenience sampling, with the sample size determined based on Kendall's estimation method. The original EIMOPO scale was translated and culturally adapted following Brislin' s guidelines. Validity was evaluated through item analysis and structural validity, while reliability was assessed using internal consistency test, test-retest reliability analysis and the split-half reliability. Data analyses were performed with SPSS and AMOS. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the 21-item scale exhibited strong psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis identified a four-factor structure, accounting for 66.883% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis further supported the model, demonstrating excellent fit: χ (2) /df = 1.298, RMSEA = 0.035, SRMR = 0.042, GFI = 0.914, CFI = 0.982, IFI = 0.982, and TLI = 0.979. Reliability measures were also robust, with an overall Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.923, the test-retest reliability ranged from 0.783 to 0.916, and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.815. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the EIMOPO exhibits robust psychometric properties, establishing it as a reliable and appropriate instrument for assessing quality of life related with radiotherapy/chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with cancer within the Chinese cultural context.