title: Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL among cancer patients in Jordan.
abstract: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome in cancer care and needs assessment by a valid questionnaire. HRQOL questionnaires need to be validated after translations to other languages and cultural settings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life 15 items Questionnaire for Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL).
  
  
  
  This is a cross-sectional study of a convenient sample of inpatients with cancer.
  
  
  
  One hundred seventy-five patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient met the 0.7 alpha criterion. Confirmatory factor analysis met the goodness of fit criteria; goodness-of-fit index (GFI), comparative fit index (CFI), normed fit index (NFI) and non-normed fit index (NNFI) >0.90 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) <0.06. All item-scale correlation coefficients exceeded the set value of 0.40, indicating satisfactory convergent validity. In terms of discriminant validity, all items in the questionnaire showed a higher item-scale correlation than item-other scale correlation, except for items 1 and 2 (physical function scale) that showed a higher correlation with fatigue. Construct validity was tested by item inter scale correlation coefficient. All constructs had correlation coefficient <0.70. External validity was tested by comparison of scores of patients who had metastasis and who did not have metastasis. Significant differences (P value <0.05) were found in all scales except for nausea. Age groups were compared and showed significant differences for physical function, fatigue, and global score of HRQOL.
  
  
  
  The Arabic version of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL is valid and reliable.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Medicine Department, King Hussein Cancer Center, Queen Rania street, Amman, Jordan. aalawneh@khcc.jo.
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alawneh
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ghaleb
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khirfan
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Bashar Abu
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Qayas
authors.affiliation: Office of Scientific affairs, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Khawla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.affiliation: Office of Scientific affairs, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rimawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, St. Olav's University Hospital, 7006, Trondheim, Norway.|Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology; European Palliative Care Research Center, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klepstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations
keywords: Arabic; Cancer; EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL; Jordan; Psychometrics