title: Comparison of the FACT-C, EORTC QLQ-CR38, and QLQ-CR29 quality of life questionnaires for patients with colorectal cancer: a literature review.
abstract: The purpose of this review was to compare the development, characteristics, validity, and reliability of three widely used quality of life (QOL) assessment tools used in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients: the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Colorectal Cancer Module (QLQ-CR38) and its successor, the QLQ-CR29.
  
  
  
  A literature search was conducted using Ovid EMBASE and EMBASE Classic (1996-2015 Week 39), Ovid MEDLINE and OLDMEDLINE (1996 September Week 4 2015), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (up to August 2015) to identify studies that discussed the FACT-C, EORTC QLQ-CR38, and QLQ-CR29 including, but not limited to, their development, characteristics, validity, and reliability.
  
  
  
  The FACT-C consists of 36 items, presented on a 5-point Likert scale, in four domains of well-being (physical, emotional, social, and functional), and the Colorectal Cancer Subscale (CCS). The physical and social well-being scales showed reasonable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 60) in all studied populations. The EORTC QLQ-CR38 (38 items) and the QLQ-CR29 (29 items) are implemented in conjunction with the core QLQ-C30 (30 items); all are presented in 4-point Likert scales. Seven scales in the QLQ-CR38 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 0.70). In the QLQ-CR29, three scales had a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of less than 0.70.
  
  
  
  The FACT-C, QLQ-CR38, and QLQ-CR29 have been extensively validated. However, analysis of their characteristics, validity, and reliability suggest differing suitability in assessing QOL in specific clinical situations.
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Vithusha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Arnav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherlyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vuong
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Leigha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rowbottom
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Tasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeAngelis
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borean
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. edward.chow@sunnybrook.ca.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4N 3 M5. edward.chow@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottomley
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Colorectal cancer; EORTC QLQ-CR29; EORTC QLQ-CR38; FACT-C; Quality of life