title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, N-0310, Oslo, Norway. k-bjorda@online.no
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bjordal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Graeff
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fayers
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hammerlid
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Pottelsberghe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahlner-Elmqvist
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Meyza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brédart
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Söderholm
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Arraras
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Feine
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abendstein
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pignon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huguenin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottomly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaasa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors