K. Bjordal et al., A 12 country field study of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and the head and neck cancer specific module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) in head and neck patients, EUR J CANC, 36(14), 2000, pp. 1796-1807
This study tests the reliability and validity of the European Organization
for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) head and neck cancer module (Q
LQ-H&N35) and version 3.0 of the EORTC Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) in 622
head and neck cancer patients from 12 countries. The patients completed the
QLQ-C30, the QLQ-H&N35 and a debriefing questionnaire before antineoplasti
c treatment or at a follow-up. 232 patients receiving treatment completed a
second questionnaire after treatment. Compliance was high and the question
naire was well accepted by the patients. Multitrait scaling analysis confir
med the proposed scale structure of the QLQ-H&N35. The QLQ-H&N35 was respon
sive to differences between disease status, site and patients with differen
t Karnofsky performance status, and to changes over time. The new physical
functioning scale (with a four-point response format) of version 3.0 of the
QLQ-C30 was shown to be more reliable than previous versions. Thus, the QL
Q-H&N35, in conjunction with the VLQ-C30, appears to be reliable, valid and
applicable to broad multicultural samples of head and neck cancer patients
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