title: Psychometric Validation of the Malaysian Chinese Version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Colorectal Cancer Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Malaysia. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Malaysian Chinese version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire core (QLQ-C30) in patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Translated versions of the QLQ-C30 were obtained from the EORTC. A cross sectional study design was used to obtain data from patients receiving treatment at two teaching hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese version of QLQ-C30 was self-administered in 96 patients while the Karnofsky Performance Scales (KPS) was generated by attending surgeons. Statistical analysis included reliability, convergent, discriminate validity, and known-groups comparisons. Statistical significance was based on p value ≤0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The internal consistencies of the Malaysian Chinese version were acceptable [Cronbach's alpha (α≥ 0.70)] in the global health status/overall quality of life (GHS/QOL), functioning scales except cognitive scale (α≤0.32) in all levels of analysis, and social/family functioning scale (α=0.63) in patients without a stoma. All questionnaire items fulfilled the criteria for convergent and discriminant validity except question number 5, with correlation with role (r = 0.62) and social/family (r = 0.41) functioning higher than with physical functioning scales (r = 0.34). The test-retest coefficients in the GHS/QOL, functioning scales and in most of the symptoms scales were moderate to high (r = 0.58 to 1.00). Patients with a stoma reported statistically significant lower physical functioning (p=0.015), social/family functioning (p=0.013), and higher constipation (p=0.010) and financial difficulty (p=0.037) compared to patients without stoma. There was no significant difference between patients with high and low KPS scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaysian Chinese version of the QLQ-C30 is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in patients with colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya E-mail : drmagaji@siswa.um.edu.my, mbarkilla@gmail.com.
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: Chee Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sagap
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires