title: Independent Validation of the Japanese Version of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL for Patients With Advanced Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 15-Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) have been examined previously, that study had several limitations, for example, small sample size.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the validity and reliability, including test-retest reliability, of the Japanese version of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL for cancer patients with metastasis or recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire was administered to cancer patients who were being treated on an oncology inpatient ward, in an oncology outpatient clinic, and in seven inpatient palliative units in Japan, from August 2007 to March 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from a total of 312 cancer patients were analyzed. The proportion of missing values was less than 4% for all items. The factor structure was reproduced identically with the original EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, English version. The correlation of subscales showed a reasonable matrix. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.76 to 0.86, and intraclass correlation coefficients, which indicate test-retest reliability, ranged from 0.52 to 0.77. All subscales, especially physical functioning, fatigue, and pain, were significantly correlated with self-reported Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Japanese version of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL has sufficient validity, acceptable reliability, and feasibility for patients with advanced cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan. Electronic address: miyasita-tky@umin.net.
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Palliative Care Team and Seirei Hospice, Seirei Mikatahara Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan; Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Showa University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasutsuna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narabayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycho-Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.affiliation: KKR Department of Palliative Medicine, Sapporo Medical Center, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Chizuko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.affiliation: Shinjo Clinic, Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan; Department of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka Saiseikai General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Care, Seirei Hospice, Seirei Mikatahara Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Hospice & Children's Hospice Hospital, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikenaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Care, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohara
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuneto
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shima
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating
keywords: Palliative care; advanced cancer patients; neoplasms; quality of life; questionnaires