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Published in: Quality of Life Research 3/2022

Open Access 01-03-2022 | Nausea

Equivalence testing of a newly developed interviewer-led telephone script for the EORTC QLQ-C30

Authors: Claire Piccinin, Madeline Pe, Dagmara Kuliś, James W. Shaw, Sally J. Wheelwright, Andrew Bottomley

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 3/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life-Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) is a widely used generic self-report measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for cancer patients. However, no validated voice script for interviewer-led telephone administration was previously available. The aim of this study was to develop a voice script for interviewer administration via telephone.

Methods

Following guidelines from the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) PRO Mixed Modes Good Research Practices Task Force, a randomised cross-over equivalence study, including cognitive debriefing, was conducted to assess equivalence between paper and telephone administration modes. Assuming an expected intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.70 and a minimally acceptable level of 0.50, a sample size of 63 was required.

Results

Cognitive interviews with five cancer patients found the voice script to be clear and understandable. Due to a protocol deviation in the first wave of testing, only 26 patients were available for analyses. A second wave of recruitment was conducted, adding 37 patients (n = 63; mean age 55.48; 65.1% female). Total ICCs for mode comparison ranged from 0.72 (nausea and vomiting, 95% CI 0.48–0.86) to 0.90 (global health status/QoL, 95% CI 0.80–0.95; pain, 95% CI 0.79–0.95; constipation, 95% CI 0.80–0.95). For paper first administration, all ICCs were above 0.70, except nausea and vomiting (ICC 0.55; 95% CI 0.24–0.76) and financial difficulties (ICC 0.60; 95% CI 0.31–0.79). For phone first administration, all ICCs were above 0.70.

Conclusions

The equivalence testing results support the voice script’s validity for administration of the QLQ-C30 via telephone.
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Metadata
Title
Equivalence testing of a newly developed interviewer-led telephone script for the EORTC QLQ-C30
Authors
Claire Piccinin
Madeline Pe
Dagmara Kuliś
James W. Shaw
Sally J. Wheelwright
Andrew Bottomley
Publication date
01-03-2022
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Keywords
Nausea
Vomiting
Published in
Quality of Life Research / Issue 3/2022
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-02955-6

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