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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Satisfactory results of a psychometric analysis and calculation of minimal clinically important differences of the World Health Organization quality of life-BREF questionnaire in an observational cohort study with lung cancer and mesothelioma patients

Authors: Mark de Mol, Sabine Visser, Joachim G. J. V. Aerts, Paul Lodder, Jolanda de Vries, Brenda L. den Oudsten

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

To determine the psychometric properties and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) in advanced stage lung cancer patients.

Methods

Patients (n = 153) completed the WHOQOL-BREF and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed and reliability and construct validity determined. MCIDs were estimated with two distribution-based methods (0.5 standard deviation (SD) and 1 standard error of measurement (1 SEM)).

Results

CFA confirmed WHOQOL-BREF domain structure. All domains demonstrated good internal consistency (α > 0.70), except Social Relationships (α = 0.57). Nineteen of the 24 WHOQOL-BREF items had correlations of ≥ 0.40 with their intended domain. Four items had higher correlations with a domain other than their intended domain. Moderate to strong correlations were observed for corresponding domains of the two questionnaires, except for the social domains (r = 0.07). For 0.5 SD, MCIDs ranged from 0.88 to 1.55, and for 1 SEM MCIDs ranged from 1.76 to 2.72.

Conclusions

The WHOQOL-BREF has satisfactory psychometric properties in patients with advanced stage lung cancer, whereas the observed MCIDs provide a method for interpretation of scores.
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Metadata
Title
Satisfactory results of a psychometric analysis and calculation of minimal clinically important differences of the World Health Organization quality of life-BREF questionnaire in an observational cohort study with lung cancer and mesothelioma patients
Authors
Mark de Mol
Sabine Visser
Joachim G. J. V. Aerts
Paul Lodder
Jolanda de Vries
Brenda L. den Oudsten
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4793-8

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