Identifying cutoff scores for the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the head and neck cancer-specific module EORTC QLQ-H&N35 representing unmet supportive care needs in patients with head and neck cancer.
This study investigates cutoff scores for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30-questions (EORTC QLQ-C30) and head and neck cancer-specific module (QLQ-H&N35) to identify patients with head and neck cancer who may require clinical attention.



Ninety-six patients with head and neck cancer completed the EORTC QLQ-C30/H&N35 and questions on supportive care needs. For all EORTC domains with the ability to discriminate between patients with and without unmet needs (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] ≥0.70), the accuracy (eg, sensitivity and specificity) of potential cutoff scores were calculated.



Cutoff scores (sensitivity ≥0.80 and specificity ≥0.60) of 90 (functioning domains) and 5 to 10 (symptom domains) were found on 7 of 28 continuous EORTC QLQ-C30/H&N35 domains. Borderline cutoff scores (sensitivity ≥0.70 and specificity ≥0.60 or sensitivity ≥0.80 and specificity ≥0.50) were found on 5 other domains.



This study provided cutoff scores on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and H&N35 based on patients' perceptions of their needs for supportive care. Future research is needed on the replicability of these cutoff scores. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1493-E1500, 2016.
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Femke
F
Jansen
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Claire F
CF
Snyder
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
C René
CR
Leemans
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Irma M
IM
Verdonck-de Leeuw
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
clinical practice; head and neck cancer; patient-reported outcome measures; quality of life; supportive care needs