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Published in:

01-10-2013

Performance of the EORTC questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients EORTC QLQ-H&N35: a methodological review

Authors: Susanne Singer, Juan Ignacio Arraras, Wei-Chu Chie, Sheila E. Fisher, Razvan Galalae, Eva Hammerlid, Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, Claudia Schmalz, Irma Verdonck-de Leeuw, Eva Gamper, Judith Keszte, Dirk Hofmeister

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 8/2013

Abstract

Purpose

The EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (H&N35) is widely used to measure quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. The aims of this study were to obtain insight into a) the languages in which the H&N35 has been used and the psychometric properties in those languages, b) the study designs, and c) its acceptance by patients and investigators.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed searching for all original papers that had used at least one item of the H&N35. Identified papers were read and the information about methodological issues abstracted statistically analysed.

Results

A total of 136 papers were identified. The H&N35 was administered in 19 different languages in 27 countries. The study design was cross-sectional in the majority of studies (53 %), prospective cohort studies (31 %), phase-II-trials (7 %), phase-III-trials (6 %) and case–control studies (1 %). The scales with the highest percentages of missing values were Sexuality (11.5 %) and Speech (7 %). The median Cronbach’s alpha of the multi-item scales ranged from 0.61 (Senses) to 0.93 (Sexuality). Construct validity was rarely investigated. On average, 12 scales (range 0-18) of the instrument were used by the investigators. The scale most often used was swallowing (in 85 % of studies) and least often used was Weight Gain (39 %).

Conclusion

The H&N35 is widely used throughout the world, mainly in observational studies, and has demonstrated robust psychometric features in different languages. However, some methodological problems reported imply that the instrument can be improved in some areas.

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Title: Performance of the EORTC questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients EORTC QLQ-H&N35: a methodological review
Authors: Susanne Singer
Juan Ignacio Arraras
Wei-Chu Chie
Sheila E. Fisher
Razvan Galalae
Eva Hammerlid
Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis
Claudia Schmalz
Irma Verdonck-de Leeuw
Eva Gamper
Judith Keszte
Dirk Hofmeister
Publication date: 01-10-2013
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Quality of Life Research / Issue 8/2013
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0325-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Performance of the EORTC questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients EORTC QLQ-H&N35: a methodological review

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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