Quality of life of patients with oesophageal cancer in Taiwan: validation and application of the Taiwan Chinese (Mandarin) version of the EORTC QLQ-OES18: a brief communication.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity, and the application of the Taiwan Chinese Version of the EORTC QLQ-OES18.


METHODS
The authors translated the questionnaire according to the guideline of the EORTC. Ninety-five patients with oesophageal cancer in National Taiwan University Hospital were interviewed using the questionnaire and the EORTC QLQ-C30 between October 2002 and September 2007. Answer distribution and psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 were examined.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 60 years (SD 12 years). Most of the patients were in advanced stages of disease, with two-thirds off-treatment. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were satisfactory (0.77-0.82) or near-satisfactory (pain: 0.67). The item-to-own and item-to-other scale correlations showed satisfactory results. Patients who were on-treatment versus off-treatment had significantly poorer quality of life scores in dysphagia, dry mouth, and taste, and a borderline poorer score in cough. Opposite situations were seen in the scales of reflux and choking.


CONCLUSIONS
The EORTC QLQ-OES18 is a valid instrument to assess quality of life issues in patients with oesophageal cancer in Taiwan.
Chie
Wei-Chu
WC
Department of Public Health, Graduate Institute of Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 520, 17 Xuzhou Road, Taipei, 10055 Taiwan, ROC. weichu@ntu.edu.tw
Tsai
Chia-Jih
CJ
Chiang
Chieh
C
Lee
Yung-Chie
YC
D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan