title: The EORTC QLQ-OH17: a supplementary module to the EORTC QLQ-C30 for assessment of oral health and quality of life in cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of oral and dental problems is seldom routine in clinical oncology, despite the potential negative impact of these problems on nutritional status, social function and quality of life (QoL). The aim was to develop a supplementary module to the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) focusing on oral health and related QoL issues in all cancer diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The module development followed the EORTC guidelines. Phases 1&2 were conducted in France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway and United Kingdom, while seven countries representing seven languages were included in Phase 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-five QoL-items were identified from systematic literature searches. Semi-structured interviews with health-care professionals experienced in oncology and oral/dental care (n=18) and patients (n=133) resulted in a provisional module with 41 items. In phase 3 this was further tested in 178 European patients representing different phases of disease and treatment. Results from the interviews, clinical experiences and statistical analyses resulted in the EORTC QLQ-OH17. The module consists of 17 items conceptualised into four multi-item scales (pain/discomfort, xerostomia, eating, information) and three single items related to use of dentures and future worries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a useful tool intended for use in conjunction with the EORTC QLQ-C30 for assessment of oral and dental problems. The increased awareness may lead to proper interventions, thereby preventing more serious problems and negative impact on QoL. The reliability and validity, the cross-cultural applicability and the psychometric properties of the module will be tested in a larger international study.
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. m.j.hjermstad@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Marianne Jensen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hjermstad
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergenmar
authors.forename: Sheila E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montel
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nicolatou-Galitis
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raber-Durlacher
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verdonck-de Leeuw
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weis
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yarom
authors.forename: Bente B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Herlofson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004435:Eating; D005060:Europe; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009909:Oral Health; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents