title: The EORTC information questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-INFO25. Validation study for Spanish patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The EORTC QLQ-INFO25 evaluates the information received by cancer patients. This study assesses the psychometric properties of the QLQ-INFO25 when applied to a sample of Spanish patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 169 patients with different cancers and stages of disease completed the EORTC QLQINFO25, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the information scales of the inpatient satisfaction module EORTC IN-PATSAT32 on two occasions during the patients' treatment and follow- up period. Psychometric evaluation of the structure, reliability, validity and responsiveness to changes was conducted. Patient acceptability was assessed with a debriefing questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multi-trait scaling confirmed the 4 multi-item scales (information about disease, medical tests, treatment and other services) and eight single items. All items met the standards for convergent validity and all except one met the standards of item discriminant validity. Internal consistency for all scales (α>0.70) and the whole questionnaire (α>0.90) was adequate in the three measurements, except information about the disease (0.67) and other services (0.68) in the first measurement, as was test-retest reliability (intraclass correlations >0.70). Correlations with related areas of IN-PATSAT32 (r>0.40) supported convergent validity. Divergent validity was confirmed through low correlations with EORTC QLQ-C30 scales (r<0.30). The EORTC QLQ-INFO-25 discriminated among groups based on gender, age, education, levels of anxiety and depression, treatment line, wish for information and satisfaction. One scale and an item showed changes over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EORTC QLQ-INFO 25 is a reliable and valid instrument when applied to a sample of Spanish cancer patients. These results are in line with those of the EORTC validation study.
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapeutic Oncology Department, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. jiarraras@correo.cop.es
authors.forename: Juan Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Arraras
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manterola
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arias de la Vega
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eito
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Domínguez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires