title: The validation of the standard Chinese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) in pre-operative patients with brain tumor in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health related quality of life (HRQOL) has increasingly emphasized on cancer patients. The psychometric properties of the standard Chinese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30, version 3.0) in brain tumor patients wasn't proven, and there was no baseline HRQOL in brain tumor patients prior to surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) was administered at three time points: T1, the first or the second day that patients were hospitalized after the brain tumor suspected or diagnosed by MRI or CT; T2, 1 to 2 days after T1, (T1 and T2 were both before surgery); T3, the day before discharge. Clinical variables included disease histologic types, cognitive function, and Karnofsky Performance Status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's alpha coefficients for multi-item scales were greater than .70 and multitrait scaling analysis showed that most of the item-scale correlation coefficients met the standards of convergent and discriminant validity, except for the cognitive functioning scale. All scales and items exhibited construct validity. Score changes over peri-operation were observed in physical and role functioning scales. Compared with mixed cancer patients assessed after surgery but before adjuvant treatment, brain tumor patients assessed pre-surgery presented better function and fewer symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The standard Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 was overall a valid instrument to assess HRQOL in brain tumor patients in China. The baseline HRQOL in brain tumor patients pre-surgery was better than that in mixed cancer patients post-surgery. Future study should modify cognitive functioning scale and examine test-retest reliability and response validity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Xijing Hospital, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Bo-lin
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jun-li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huo
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002681:China; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires