Development of an EORTC disease-specific quality of life module for use inpatients with gastric cancer

Quality of life (QL) is an important outcome in clinical trials in oncology . There is currently no valid international QL measure for gastric cancer. This paper describes the development of a QL module for gastric cancer to s upplement the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (E ORTC) Quality of life (QLQ-C30) questionnaire. Phases I to III of module de velopment were conducted in the United Kingdom, France. Germany and Spain a ccording to EORTC QL Group guidelines. Twenty relevant QL issues were gener ated from the literature and interviews with health professionals (n = 24) and patients (n = 58). This produced a 24 item provisional module. Further testing in 115 patients resulted in the QLQ-STO22, containing 22 questions, conceptualised into five scales and four single items, related to disease symptoms, treatment side-effects and emotional issues specific to gastric c ancer. The use of the QLQ-C30 supplemented by the QLQ-STO22 will provide a comprehensive QL measure for international trials in gastric cancer. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.