An international field study of the EORTC QLQ-PR25: a questionnaire for assessing the health-related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the psychometrics of the EORTC QLQ-PR25, a questionnaire assessing the health-related quality of life of prostate cancer patients.


METHODS
The QLQ-PR25 and the QLQ-C30 were administered to 642 prostate cancer patients from 13 countries treated with curative or palliative intent. The QLQ-PR25 assesses urinary, bowel and sexual symptoms and functioning, and the side-effects of hormonal treatment.


RESULTS
Five hundred and nine patients were available for the final analysis. Multitrait scaling analyses confirmed the hypothesised scale structure of the QLQ-PR25. Internal consistency reliability was good (coefficient alpha=0.70-0.86) for the urinary symptoms and sexual function scales, but lower for the bowel function and side-effects of hormonal treatment scales (alpha<0.70). The module discriminated clearly between clinically distinct patient subgroups, and was responsive to changes in health status over time.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the QLQ-PR25 demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and clinical validity. Some caution should be used in interpreting the bowel function and side-effects of hormonal therapy scales; results can be reported at the individual item and scale level.
van Andel
George
G
Department of Urology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, The Netherlands.
Bottomley
Andrew
A
Fosså
Sophie D
SD
Efficace
Fabio
F
Coens
Corneel
C
Guerif
Stephane
S
Kynaston
Howard
H
Gontero
Paolo
P
Thalmann
George
G
Akdas
Atif
A
D'Haese
Sven
S
Aaronson
Neil K
NK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology