The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30 version 3.0 Turkish) in cancer patients receiving palliative radiotherapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of palliative radiotherapy in patients with advanced cancer in terms of improvement in the quality of life [quality of life questionnaire (QLQ)], and to assess the correlation between the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 (Turkish version 3.0). A total of 88 patients with advanced malignant disease treated with palliative radiotherapy were included in the study. All patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire before and after treatment, and the patient performance status during the pre-treatment and post-treatment phase (ECOG 2) was correlated to the EORTC QLQ C-30 with subscales. Most patients (87.5%) had metastatic disease, and the remaining (12.5%) had locally advanced disease. Comparing the patients in terms of performance status, those with a better performance status (相似文献   

The EORTC core quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30, version 3.0) in terminally ill cancer patients under palliative care: validity and reliability in a Hellenic sample.

In 1986, the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) initiated a research program to develop an integrated, modular approach for evaluating the quality of life of patients participating in international clinical trials. The questionnaire was designed to measure cancer patients' physical, psychological and social functions. The questionnaire is composed of 5 multiitem scales (physical, role, social, emotional and cognitive functioning) and 9 single items (pain, fatigue, financial impact, appetite loss, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sleep disturbance and quality of life). It was administered to the patients before the initiation of palliative treatment and then once again during the treatment. The validation of the questionnaire took place at Areteion Hospital, while the translation was conducted by the EORTC bureau. The final validation sample consisted of 120 cancer patients. The clinical variable assessed was the performance status. The aim of our study was to assess the applicability of this quality of life measurement on a Hellenic sample of cancer patients receiving palliative care. The results showed that the questionnaire was well accepted in the present patient population. In addition, the questionnaire was found to be useful in detecting the effectiveness of palliative treatment over time. The scale reliability was very good (pretreatment from 0.57-0.79, ontreatment from 0.56-0.75), especially for the functioning scale. In addition, very good validity was found in all the approaches used. Moreover, the factor analysis results in a 6-factor solution that satisfies the criteria of reproducibility, interpretability and confirmatory setting. Performance status showed an improvement (p < 0.0025) during the studied period. These results support that the QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) has proven to be a reliable and valid measure of the quality of life in Greek cancer patients receiving palliative care treatment.     

Clinical and psychometric validation of a questionnaire module, the EORTC QLQ-STO 22, to assess quality of life in patients with gastric cancer

The purpose of this study was to define the measurement properties and clinical validity of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire module to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) in gastric cancer. The EORTC gastric cancer module, QLQ-STO 22, was administered with the QLQ-C30, core questionnaire, to 219 patients undergoing treatment with curative or palliative intent before and after treatment. Reliability and validity of the module was tested and patients' debriefing comments analysed. Compliance rates were high, questionnaires well accepted and less than 4% of items had missing data. Multi-trait scaling analyses and face validity refined the module to five scales and four single items. Scales distinguished between clinically distinct groups of patients and demonstrated treatment-induced changes over time. Test-retest scores demonstrated good reliability. The EORTC QLQ-STO 22 demonstrates psychometric and clinical validity that supports its use to supplement the EORTC QLQ-C30 to assess quality of life in patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgery, surgery and chemoradiotherapy, palliative chemotherapy, palliative surgery and best supportive care.     

Validation of the Turkish Versions of EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 Modules in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose: To test the validity and reliability of The European Organization for Research and Treatment ofCancer (EORTC) core (QLQ-C30) and breast cancer module (QLQ-BR23) for Turkish breast cancer patients.Patients and Methods: A total of 127 patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) enrolled to this prospective study.EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 modules applied to patients before initiation of RT and at follow-up period.Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 13.0. Results: Questionnaires’ were found reliable and valid forTurkish breast cancer patients. Six of the 8 multi-item scales of QLQ-C30 had a high reliability (Cronbach’s α>0.7); where physical functioning and pain scores were less reliable (Cronbach’s α of 0.66 and 0.68 respectively).In the QLQ-BR23, 3 of 5 multi-item scales were reliable; less reliable were breast and arm symptoms scale(Cronbach’s α of 0.65 and 0.61 respectively). In our analysis the most determinative subscales of QLQ-C30on global health was emotional functioning followed by fatigue, role functioning and appetite loss (respectivelyp=0.002, p=0.01; p=0.03 and p=0.08). Among QLQ-BR23 scales systemic therapy side effects, future perspectiveand upset by hair loss subscales had high impact on global health status (respectively p=0.006; p=0.01 and p=0.03).Conclusions: The Turkish version of EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 modules are reliable and valid tools toassess quality of life of Turkish breast cancer patients.     

Quality of life in advanced cancer patients: the impact of sociodemographic and medical characteristics.

Population-based surveys have shown that health-related quality of life (HRQL) is influenced by patients' characteristics such as age, gender, living situation and diagnoses. The present study explores the impact of such factors on the HRQL of severely ill cancer patients. The study sample included 395 cancer patients who participated in a cluster randomised trial of palliative care. Median survival was 13 weeks. HRQL assessments (using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire) were compared among subgroups of relevant patients' characteristics (ANOVA), and the significance of individual covariates was explored by multivariate linear regression. Most EORTC QLQ-C30 scores showed minor differences between genders. Higher age was associated with less sleeping disturbance, less pain and better emotional functioning. No positive impact of living with a partner was found. Performance status and/or time from assessment to death were significantly associated with most functioning and symptom scores. We concluded that although the overall impact of sociodemographic characteristics may seem less important to HRQL scores among advanced cancer patients than in general populations, age and gender should be allowed for. Performance status and closeness to death also need to be reported.     

Understanding the reliability and validity of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Turkish cancer patients

Quality of life (QOL) has become an important area to address. The most commonly used QOL tool in oncology is the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL measure (EORTC QLQ-C30). The aim of this study is to examine the reliability and validity of this widely used questionnaire in Turkish language. A total of 114 cancer patients were recruited in this study. The internal consistency of the subscales, concurrent validity between EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0 and Short Form-36 (SF-36), the correlations between the subscales of EORTC QLQ-C30 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale-Anxiety (HADS-A), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale-Depression (HADS-D) were also evaluated. Cronbach's alpha-coefficient for multi-item scales ranged from 0.56 to 0.85, with emotional functioning having the highest Cronbach's alpha-coefficient. General health/QOL subscale was correlated significantly with all other subscales. Modest correlations were found between relevant subscales of SF-36 and EORTC QLQ-C30 scales indicating good convergent validity. Although score of emotional functioning subscale was significantly correlated with HADS-A, no correlation was found with HADS-D. The correlations between general health/QOL and HADS-A and HADS-D were significant though Pearson's coefficients were below 0.4. The EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0 is a reliable and valid instrument and suitable for measuring the QOL in cancer patients in Turkey.     

An international field study of the reliability and validity of a disease-specific questionnaire module (the QLQ-OV28) in assessing the quality of life of patients with ovarian cancer

This study defines the psychometric properties of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life (QOL) questionnaire designed to measure the QOL of patients with ovarian cancer. The ovarian cancer module (EORTC QLQ-OV28) was developed to supplement the EORTC QLQ-C30. The core questionnaire and the QLQ-OV28 were prospectively administered to 368 ovarian cancer patients after they had been treated with radical or debulking surgery followed by chemotherapy. The QLQ-OV28 module assesses abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms, peripheral neuropathy, other chemotherapy side-effects, hormonal/menopausal symptoms, body image, attitude to disease/treatment and sexual functioning. Questionnaires were well accepted by patients, baseline compliance rates were 86%, 72% provided a second assessment, less than 3% of the items had missing data. Multi-trait scaling analyses confirmed the hypothesised scales. All hypothesised scales exhibited good psychometric properties. These results support the clinical and psychometric validity of the EORTC QLQ-OV28 module as a supplement to the EORTC QLQ-C30.     

Brief cognitive assessment of cancer patients: evaluation of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) psychometric properties

AIM: The aim of the present study was to validate the Greek version of the MMSE in advanced-cancer patients attending a palliative care unit. METHODS: The sample consisted of 103 advanced-cancer patients. The questionnaire was completed at baseline and three days later. Together with the MMSE, the patients also completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 Cognitive functioning scale, while researchers recorded data on demographic characteristics, disease status and treatment regimen. RESULTS: MMSE had overall Cronbach alpha 0.890. Validity as performed using known-group analysis showed good results. MMSE discriminated well between subgroups of patients differing in disease severity as defined by ECOG performance status. Comparison between the MMSE and the EORTC Cognitive functioning scale was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These psychometric properties of the Greek version of the MMSE confirm it as a valid and reliable measure when administered to patients with advanced cancer.     

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

The Turkish version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire version 2.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30 v.2.0) has started to be used in clinical trials recently. The objective of the study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 v.2.0 and the correlation between the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and the EORTC QLQ-C30. Two hundred and two lung cancer patients were included in the study between January and March 2000. All the subscales met the minimal standards of reliability (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.70). Only the role functioning scale differed among the three disease stages of patients (local, locoregional and metastatic). There was no statistically significant difference among therapy types. All interscale correlations were statistically significant ( P  < 0.01). The strongest correlations were found among the physical functioning, role functioning and fatigue scales. Social functioning was closely related with physical, role, emotional and cognitive functioning. The weakest correlations were between nausea/vomiting and the other scales. Global quality of life (QOL) was substantially correlated with most of the scales except cognitive functioning. The coefficients for the correlation between the items differed between 0.12 and 0.97 and all the subscales were strongly correlated with the scales which they formed. The highest correlation between the EORTC QLQ-C30 and KPS was for physical functioning ( r  = 0.62, P  < 0.05). The Turkish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 is a valid (by means of interscales validity) and reliable instrument for Turkish lung cancer patients and can be used in clinical studies but needs supporting by the reference data on the QOL of the Turkish population.     

The relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and survival in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer

It remains unclear whether any aspect of quality of life has a role in predicting survival in an unselected cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), clinico-pathological characteristics and survival in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Patients presenting with gastric or oesophageal cancer, staged using the UICC tumour node metastasis (TNM) classification and who received either potentially curative surgery or palliative treatment between November 1997 and December 2002 (n=152) participated in a quality of life study, using the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire. On univariate analysis, age (P<0.01), tumour length (P<0.0001), TNM stage (P<0.0001), weight loss (P<0.0001), dysphagia score (P<0.001), performance status (P<0.1) and treatment (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. EORTC QLQ-C30, physical functioning (P<0.0001), role functioning (P<0.001), cognitive functioning (P<0.01), social functioning (P<0.0001), global quality of life (P<0.0001), fatigue (P<0.0001), nausea/vomiting (P<0.01), pain (P<0.001), dyspnoea (P<0.0001), appetite loss (P<0.0001) and constipation (P<0.05) were also significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. On multivariate survival analysis, tumour stage (P<0.0001), treatment (P<0.001) and appetite loss (P<0.0001) were significant independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. The present study highlights the importance of quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) measures, in particular appetite loss, as a prognostic factor in these patients.     

Evaluation of quality of life in patients with malignant dysphagia

BACKGROUND: In the last 10 years of clinical research there has been increasing interest in the evaluation of quality of life. Several generic and specific instruments have been developed for this purpose. EORTC QLQ C-30 is a cancer-specific questionnaire translated into various languages and validated in several European countries including Italy, where the impact of malignant disease on different areas of quality of life is poorly documented. METHODS: The EORTC QLQ C-30 was administered to 109 patients referred to the endoscopy division of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, for endoscopic palliative treatment of malignant dysphagia to test its characteristics in terms of acceptability and clinical validity. RESULTS: In this group of patients the impact of advanced esophageal cancer was highly evident for Emotional and Physical Functioning, Fatigue and Global QoL scales. Dysphagia is a serious problem for many patients; there is a correlation between grade of dysphagia and four QoL dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: QoL assessment is an important tool to evaluate the adequate management of patients with esophageal cancer. The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire proved to be valid and reliable also in this population.     

Psychometric Validation of the Malaysian Chinese Version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Background and Aims: Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Malaysia. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Malaysian Chinese version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire core (QLQ-C30) in patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Translated versions of the QLQ-C30 were obtained from the EORTC. A cross sectional study design was used to obtain data from patients receiving treatment at two teaching hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese version of QLQ-C30 was self administered in 96 patients while the Karnofsky Performance Scales (KPS) was generated by attending surgeons. Statistical analysis included reliability, convergent, discriminate validity, and known-groups comparisons. Statistical significance was based on p value ≤0.05. Results: The internal consistencies of the Malaysian Chinese version were acceptable [Cronbach’s alpha (α≥ 0.70)] in the global health status/overall quality of life (GHS/QOL), functioning scales except cognitive scale (α≤0.32) in all levels of analysis, and social/family functioning scale ( =0.63) in patients without a stoma. All questionnaire items fulfilled the criteria for convergent and discriminant validity except question number 5, with correlation with role (r = 0.62) and social/family (r = 0.41) functioning higher than with physical functioning scales (r = 0.34). The test-retest coefficients in the GHS/QOL, functioning scales and in most of the symptoms scales were moderate to high (r = 0.58 to 1.00). Patients with a stoma reported statistically significant lower physical functioning (p=0.015), social/family functioning (p=0.013), and higher constipation (p=0.010) and financial difficulty (p=0.037) compared to patients without stoma. There was no significant difference between patients with high and low KPS scores. Conclusions:Malaysian Chinese version of the QLQ-C30 is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in patients with colorectal cancer.     

Quality of life after palliative radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a prospective study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in respiratory symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in patients with locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving thoracic radiotherapy. Additionally, the correlation between the level of symptom relief and objective tumor response was investigated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty-five patients were entered in this prospective study. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-LC13 were used to investigate changes in QoL. Assessments were performed before radiotherapy and 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months after radiotherapy. RESULTS: The QoL response rates were excellent for hemoptysis (79%); good for arm/shoulder pain (56%), chest wall pain (53%), and cough (49%); moderate for dyspnea (39%); and minimal for the general symptoms fatigue (22%) and appetite loss (11%). The QoL response rates for the five functioning scales of the QLQ-C30 varied from 35% for role functioning to 57% for emotional functioning. Global QoL improved in 37% of the cases. In general, there was a tendency for better palliation of symptoms and improvement of QoL among patients with an objective tumor response than among those without objective tumor response, which was statistically significant for dyspnea (p = 0.02) and social functioning (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that conventional thoracic radiotherapy offers palliation of respiratory symptoms and improved QoL in a substantial proportion of patients with locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC. Tumor reduction is only one of the mechanisms by which palliation of symptoms and improvement of QoL is achieved.     

A longitudinal study of the Swedish Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngeal Cancer questionnaire in patients treated for laryngeal cancer

A prospective longitudinal study was performed to investigate the sensitivity to change over time of the Swedish Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngeal Cancer questionnaire (S-SECEL), addressing communication dysfunction in patients with laryngeal cancer. Twenty-six consecutive patients attending a weekly tumour conference over a period of one year at Sahlgrenska University Hospital were included in the study prior to start of treatment. The patients answered four questionnaires repeatedly in the course of one year: the S-SECEL, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the Core Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) supplemented by the Head and Neck cancer questionnaire module (QLQ-H&N35), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. In addition, performance status was assessed. The S-SECEL questionnaire was well accepted by the patients, and compliance was satisfactory with a cumulative response rate of 88% at one year, supporting its feasibility in clinical settings. Repeated measures with the S-SECEL over one year demonstrated a significant decrease in voice and speech dysfunction. The correlation pattern over time between the S-SECEL and the EORTC and HAD questionnaires lent support to the construct validity of the S-SECEL and indicated that the questionnaire was sensitive to clinical change. The changes in S-SECEL correlated most strongly with changes in the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 speech scale, moderately with changes in the QLQ-C30 role and emotional functioning and global QoL scales, while the weakest correlations were with changes in physical functioning. The S-SECEL was sensitive to changes in communication dysfunction, with convergent and discriminant validity of longitudinal assessments, and with relevance for the quality of life of patients with laryngeal cancer receiving different treatment modalities.     

The development of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL: a shortened questionnaire for cancer patients in palliative care

This study aimed at developing a shortened version of the EORTC QLQ-C30, one of the most widely used health-related quality of life questionnaires in oncology, for palliative care research. The study included interviews with 41 patients and 66 health care professionals in palliative care to determine the appropriateness, relevance and importance of the various domains of the QLQ-C30. Item response theory methods were used to shorten scales. Patients and health care professionals rated pain, physical function, emotional function, fatigue, global health status/quality of life, nausea/vomiting, appetite, dyspnoea, constipation, and sleep as most important. Therefore, these scales/items were retained in the questionnaire. Four scales were shortened without reducing measurement precision. Important dimensions not covered by the questionnaire were identified. The resulting 15-item EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL is a 'core questionnaire' for palliative care. Depending on the research questions, it may be supplemented by additional items, modules or questionnaires.     

Quality of life after palliative treatment for oesophageal carcinoma -- a prospective comparison between stent placement and single dose brachytherapy

Metal stent placement and single dose brachytherapy are commonly used treatment modalities for the palliation of inoperable oesophageal carcinoma. We investigated generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after these palliative treatments. Patients with dysphagia from inoperable oesophageal carcinoma were randomised to placement of a covered Ultraflex stent (n = 108) or single dose (12 Gy) brachytherapy (n = 101). We obtained longitudinal data on disease-specific (dysphagia score, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) OES-23, visual analogue pain scale) and generic (EORTC Quality of Life-Core 30 Questionnaire (QLQ-C30), Euroqol (EQ)-5D) HRQoL at monthly home visits by a specially-trained research nurse. We compared HRQoL between the two treatments and analysed changes in HRQoL during follow-up. Dysphagia improved more rapidly after stent placement than after brachytherapy, but long-term relief of dysphagia was better after brachytherapy. For generic HRQoL, there was an overall significant difference in favour of brachytherapy on four out of five functional scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (role, emotional, cognitive and social) (P < 0.05). Generic HRQoL deteriorated over time on all functional scales of the EORTC QLQ C-30 and EQ-5D, in particular physical and role functioning (on average -23 and -24 on a 100 points scale during 0.5 years of follow-up). This decline was more pronounced in the stent group. Major improvements were seen on the dysphagia and eating scales of the EORTC OES-23, in contrast to other scales of this disease-specific measure, which remained almost stable during follow-up. Reported levels of chest or abdominal pain remained stable during follow-up in both treatment groups, general pain levels increased to a minor extent. The effects of single dose brachytherapy on HRQoL compared favourably to those of stent placement for the palliation of oesophageal cancer. Future studies on palliative care for oesophageal cancer should at least include generic HRQoL scales, since these were more responsive in measuring patients' functioning and well-being during follow-up than disease-specific HRQoL scales.     

Physical distress, emotional status, and quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer complicated by post-radiotherapy endocrinopathy

PURPOSE: To explore factors affecting quality of life (QOL) among patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) complicated by post-radiotherapy endocrinopathy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary medical center and involved a total of 43 post-radiotherapy, recurrence-free NPC patients with endocrinopathy. They performed self-assessment of their emotional status using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory-II, and their QoL with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire and the H&N35 cancer module. RESULTS: Emotional and cognitive functioning of EORTC QLQ-C30 were the most affected. Fatigue, insomnia, and pain were the main concerns. Of the patients, 22 (51.2%) had anxiety and 19 (44.2%) had depression. Both depression and anxiety were negatively correlated with functional scales and global QoL but positively correlated with symptom scales. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that physical distress symptoms of QLQ-C30 and physical functioning were the significant predictors of global QoL. Emotional and social functioning could predict depression, whereas emotional and physical functioning were significant predictors of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: NPC patients with post-radiotherapy endocrinopathy exhibit impaired cognitive function and negative emotions. Symptoms of physical distress play an important role in QoL perception. Measurement of EORTC QLQ-C30 can be a useful instrument for the early detection of patients' impaired cognitive function and psychological morbidity. The high psychological distress related to the endocrine disturbances or the impact of NPC itself needs further study.     

Validation Study of a Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaire for Usin Iran.

Introduction: Recently, it has been recognized that a more comprehensive assessment of the cancer patient is necessary and that the evaluation of outcomes must move beyond traditional biomedical endpoints to include assessments of the impact of disease and its treatment on patients' quality of life. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer has developed a 30-item quality of life questionnaire to obtain information about the impact of disease and treatment on the daily living of cancer patients. This questionnaire has been translated into many languages and used in various countries. However, version 3.0 has not yet been validated for use with Iranian patients. The aims of the present study were therefore to evaluate the reliability and validity of the new QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 132 random samples of breast cancer patients. Reliability was evaluated through the internal consistency of multi-item subscales. Pearson's correlations of an item with its own scale (corrected for overlap) and other scales were calculated to evaluated convergent and discriminant validity. Clinical validity was evaluated by known-group comparisons. All calculations were performed using SPSS.V.13 software. Results: In the reliability analysis, most scales fitted the criteria except the fatigue (Alpha 0.65), pain (Alpha 0.69) and nausea and vomiting scales (Alpha 0.66). Convergent validity was evidenced by item own subscale correlation above 0.40 for all multi-item subscales. Item discriminant validity was successful in all analyses except for item 4 of the physical functioning scale. Results of the group based analysis show significant differences in QLQ-C30 functioning and symptom scores, where patients with higher grade have the worst outcome(P<0.05). Conclusion: The Iranian version of EORTC QLQC30 is a reliable and valid QOL measure for cancer patients which indicates that it can be used in clinical and epidemiological cancer research.     

Long-term quality of life in patients with rectal cancer treated with preoperative (chemo)-radiotherapy within a randomized trial

PurposeFew studies have evaluated the quality of life (QoL) of patients with rectal cancer. This report describes the quality of life of French patients who entered the 22921 EORTC trial that investigated the role and place of chemotherapy (CT) added to preoperative radiotherapy (preop-RT).Patients and MethodsPatients without recurrences were evaluated with EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 questionnaires, after a median time of 4.6 years from randomisation.ResultsAll the scores of QLQ-C30 functions were high, from 78 up to 88, with those of global health quality of life scale (GHQL) status being 73. The mean scores of symptoms were low except for diarrhoea. For QLQ-CR38, the mean scores for “body image” and “future perspective” were high at 79.6 and 69.7 respectively. The scores for “sexual functioning” and “enjoyment” were low. Men had more sexual problems than females (62.5 vs 25 mean scores respectively). Chemotherapy was associated with more diarrhoea complaints, lower “role”, lower “social functioning” and lower global health quality of life scale.ConclusionThe overall quality of life of patients with rectal cancer is quite good 4.6 years after the beginning preoperative treatments. However, adding chemotherapy to preoperative radiotherapy has a negative effect on diarrhoea complaints and some quality of life dimensions.     

A 12 country field study of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and the head and neck cancer specific module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) in head and neck patients. EORTC Quality of Life Group

This study tests the reliability and validity of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) head and neck cancer module (QLQ-H&N35) and version 3.0 of the EORTC Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) in 622 head and neck cancer patients from 12 countries. The patients completed the QLQ-C30, the QLQ-H&N35 and a debriefing questionnaire before antineoplastic treatment or at a follow-up. 232 patients receiving treatment completed a second questionnaire after treatment. Compliance was high and the questionnaire was well accepted by the patients. Multitrait scaling analysis confirmed the proposed scale structure of the QLQ-H&N35. The QLQ-H&N35 was responsive to differences between disease status, site and patients with different Karnofsky performance status, and to changes over time. The new physical functioning scale (with a four-point response format) of version 3.0 of the QLQ-C30 was shown to be more reliable than previous versions. Thus, the QLQ-H&N35, in conjunction with the QLQ-C30, appears to be reliable, valid and applicable to broad multicultural samples of head and neck cancer patients.