Validation of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 in patients with laryngeal cancer after surgery.

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core Module (QLQ-C30) and Head and Neck Module (QLQ-H&N35) for patients who have undergone surgery due to laryngeal cancer. A total of 323 patients from 6 different centers in Germany who had been operated on completed the QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-H&N35 in addition to being surveyed in a personal interview. Multitrait scaling analysis confirmed the proposed scale structure of both questionnaires. Cronbach's alpha of the QLQ-C30 scales ranged from 0.64 (Cognitive Functioning) to 0.94 (Global Health Status); the alpha of the QLQ-H&N35 ranged from 0.55 (Speech) to 0.90 (Sexuality). Known-groups comparisons showed multiple differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables. It can be concluded that the QLQ-H&N35, in conjunction with the QLQ-C30, is a reliable instrument that is able to differentiate between diverse groups of patients with laryngeal cancer after surgery.

Singer S ，Wollbrück D ，Wulke C ，Dietz A ，Klemm E ，Oeken J ，Meister EF ，Gudziol H ，Bindewald J ，Schwarz R ... -  《-》

Assessment of change of quality of life in terminally ill patients under cancer pain management using the EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) in a Korean sample.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is composed of 5 multi-item function scales and 9 symptom scales. The Korean EORTC QLQ-C30 was drawn up by the EORTC itself. However, its validity and reliability in the palliative care has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the practicality, reliability, and validity of the Korean EORTC QLQ-C30 in terminally ill patients under cancer pain management. The study was conducted from March 2003 to February 2004. The main sample consisted of 159 patients with cancer-related pain during the past week. To assess the severity and impact of pain, the patients completed the Korean version of the Brief Pain Inventory. We enrolled the patients with substantial pain who rated their worst pain as 5 or higher. The participants reported their worst pain of the previous week using the Brief Pain Inventory and were given the EORTC QLQ-C30 to fill out. Two weeks later, the patients were asked to complete the questionnaire a second time while they were on cancer pain management. The questionnaire was well accepted among terminally ill cancer patients. The scale reliability was very good [Cronbach's alpha: 0.80-0.91 (before treatment), 0.81-0.92 (on treatment)], except for cognitive function. In the initial measure of the QLQ-C30 for each patient, clinical validity was found for all the functional scales using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale. Ninety-eight patients had improved cancer pain severity, 17 patients had deteriorated cancer pain, and 29 patients had unchanged pain. The differences in QLQ-C30 scores were compared between the improved and nonimproved cancer pain group. Statistically significant between-group differences over time were observed for the scales of global quality of life, fatigue, pain, nausea, and sleep disturbance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient to judge internal consistency was very good except for cognitive functioning. The Korean QLQ-C30 has a strong validity in functional scales. Global quality of life, pain, fatigue, nausea, and sleep disturbance were improved after cancer pain management. These results support that the QLQ-C30 is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in Korean cancer patients receiving cancer pain management. We consider that the QLQ-C30 can be used effectively in the palliative care settings in order to assess the effects of cancer pain management on quality of life of advanced-stage cancer patients.

Park KU 《-》

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life questionnaire cervical cancer module: EORTC QLQ-CX24.

The authors report on the development and validation of a cervical cancer module for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life (QoL) questionnaire (QLQ), which was designed to assess disease-specific and treatment-specific aspects of QoL in patients with cervical cancer. The cervical cancer module (EORTC QLQ-CX24) was developed in a multicultural, multidisciplinary setting to supplement the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire. The QLQ-C30 and the cervical cancer module were administered to 346 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Psychometric analyses were performed by using data from 2 independent samples. The QLQ-CX24 consists of 3 multiitem scales and 5 single-item scales. Multitrait scaling analyses revealed high internal consistencies for the subscales with Cronbach alpha coefficients ranging from .72 to .87 (Symptom Experience, .72; Body Image, .86; Sexual/Vaginal Functioning, .87). Convergent and discriminant validity were fulfilled with scaling errors below 3%. The QLQ-CX24 was capable of discriminating between clinical subgroups. All items exhibited good compliance with <3% missing values. Most patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-CX24 in <15 minutes (86%), and many did not require any assistance to complete the questionnaires (65%). The current psychometric analyses supported the content and construct validity and the reliability of the EORTC QLQ-CX24 module. This newly developed module is a useful instrument for assessing the QoL of patients who are treated for cervical cancer both in clinical trials and in clinical practice.

Greimel ER ，Kuljanic Vlasic K ，Waldenstrom AC ，Duric VM ，Jensen PT ，Singer S ，Chie W ，Nordin A ，Bjelic Radisic V ，Wydra D ，European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Group ... -  《-》

Health-related quality-of-life in patients with head-and-neck cancer in Sri Lanka: psychometric properties of the 'Sinhala' version of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35.

Jayasekara H ，Rajapaksa LC ，Aaronson NK 《-》

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: an examination into the cultural validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30.

Guzelant A ，Goksel T ，Ozkok S ，Tasbakan S ，Aysan T ，Bottomley A ... -  《EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE》