title: Health-related quality of life among colorectal cancer patients in Malaysia: a study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem in Malaysia. However, it is also one of the most treatable cancers, resulting in significant numbers of survivors. Therefore, the impact of surviving treatment for colorectal cancer on health related quality of life is important for the patients, clinicians and policy makers, and may differ in different cultures and populations. The aim of this study was to validate the Malaysian versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life instruments among colorectal cancers patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross sectional multi centre study. Three hospitals were included, the University of Malaya Medical Centre, the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre and Hospital Tuanku Jaafar Seremban. Malaysian citizens and permanent residence were studied and demographic and clinical information obtained from hospital records. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Core 30, colorectal cancer CR29, and the colorectal cancer liver metastasis LMC 21 were used and an observer assessment of performance obtained with the Karnofsky Performance Scale. Questionnaires were translated into three most commonly spoken languages in Malaysia (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil), then administered, scored and analyzed following the developers' guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the participating centres. Tests of reliability and validity were performed to examine the validity of these instruments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of pilot testing shows that the use of the Malaysian versions of EORTC QLQ C30, CR29 instruments is feasible in our sample of colorectal cancer patients. Instructions for completion as well as questions were well understood except the questions on the overall quality of life, overall health status and sexual activity. Thus we anticipate obtaining good psychometric properties for the instruments at the end of the study.
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drmagaji@siswa.um.edu.my
authors.forename: Bello Arkilla
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Magaji
authors.forename: Foong Ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.forename: April Camilla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Roslani
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sagap
authors.forename: Jasiah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blazeby
authors.forename: Chee Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires