Validation of EORTC QLQ-LC43 for Chinese patients with lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To test the validity, reliability and acceptability of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 43 (EORTC QLQ-LC43) for Chinese patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
Patients from Tianjin Cancer Institution and Hospital with lung cancer were enrolled in this study. All were treated in Tianjin Cancer Institution and Hospital from December 2012 to April 2013. All participants self-administered the EORTC QLQ-LC43 and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) was performed to evaluate scores. Reliability test of the questionnaires was based on Cronbach's α coefficients, Pearson correlation test and Kruskal-Wallis test.


RESULTS
This study included 317 inpatients and outpatients. The Cronbach's α coefficients were >0.70 in all scales of the two questionnaires, except that of cognitive functioning. High correlations were found among the quality of life (QoL), physical functioning, role functioning, dyspnea, and KPS scores (r>0.40). Mild correlations were discovered among the rest of the items. Dividing the participants into three groups based on the KPS scores showed that QoL and functional scales scores progressively decreased and the symptom items scores progressively increased as KPS scores decreased. All inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The EORTC QLQ-LC43 is a reliable and valid instrument in patients with lung cancer and is appropriate for measuring the QoL of Chinese patients.
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin, PR China.
Lei
L
Zhang
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin, PR China.
Yanjun
Y
Su
Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China.
Yanni
Y
Hua
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin, PR China.
Weiran
W
Liu
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Outpatient Service, Tianjin, PR China.
Lin
L
Yue
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin, PR China.
Jinglian
J
Wu
Tumor Hospital Xiang Ya School of Medicine of Central South University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Changsha, PR China.
Le
L
Luo
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tumor Hospital of Shaanxi Province, Affiliated to the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, PR China.
Weidong
W
Lü
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Stephanie
S
Mu-Lian Woo
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Adam R
AR
Miller
Xiang Ya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, PR China.
Shumin
S
Xie
Department of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China.
Hong
H
Zhu
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin, PR China.
Chong
C
Pang
Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China.
Jing
J
Zhang
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin, PR China. Electronic address: chinaray728@gmail.com.
Changli
C
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Karnofsky performance status; Lung neoplasms; Psychometrics; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Standards