title: Development of the Greek version of the University of Washington quality of life questionnaire for patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: The University of Washington quality of life (UW-QOL) questionnaire, created in 1993 to evaluate health related quality of life, has been widely used in English-speaking populations and translated and validated in other languages. The aim of the present study was to carefully translate and psychometrically validate the UW-QOL questionnaire in Greek. The revised version of the questionnaire was obtained by forward and backward translation of the original English version, according to internationally accepted guidelines. Validation was performed in 120 patients with head and neck cancer treated in a Greek Anticancer Institute in Athens, during their follow-up visits. Eligible patients completed the Greek version of the questionnaire and two other previously validated quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ H&N35 and C-30). Related data and the patients' demographics were extracted from the patient's notes. Strong internal consistency (mean Cronbach α value of 0.83) was shown, with good construct validity. Statistically significant differences were noted between tumour staging and treatment modality and global quality of life. Strong correlation was shown between previously validated EORTC questionnaires and the translated UW-QOL questionnaire. In conclusion, the Greek version of the UW-QOL questionnaire appears to be culturally appropriate and psychometrically valid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head & Neck/Maxillofacial Surgery, Greek Anticancer Institute, Saint Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: kser51@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Linardoutsos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London, University of London, United Kingdom; Department of Head & Neck/Maxillofacial Surgery, Greek Anticancer Institute, Saint Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rapidis
authors.affiliation: Regional Maxillofacial Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bramis
authors.affiliation: Regional Maxillofacial Unit, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating
keywords: Greek version; Head and neck cancer; Quality of life; Reliability; UW-QOL questionnaire; Validity