Development and validation of the simplified Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-H&N35 for patients with head and neck cancer

18572 Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a stigmatizing disease. In order to identify special needs in these patients (pts), we evaluated HRQoL and the demographic characteristics of HNC pts who had survived at least one year after chemoradiation. Methods: Our survey, done in may 2005, identified 42 pts alive (from 527 admitted from May 2002 to May 2004 treated with either exclusive (n = 19) or adjuvant (n = 23) chemoradiation. These pts as well 16 normal controls, were interviewed and invited to complete EORTC-QLQ-C30 and HN35. These questionnaires had already been validated for Brazilian Portuguese. Primary site was 12 oral cavity, 14 pharynx, 13 larynx, 3 not determined. Age 60.3 ± 9.0 y, 36 male and 6 female; 39 were squamous cell carcinoma and 3 other type; 28 were stage III or IV; 40 had no evidence of disease and two had recurrent disease at the time of survey. Comparison between groups were done by using the Mann-Whitney test and differences of at least 10 points was considered of clinical significance. Simple correlations were conducted between HRQoL variables and clinical correlates and demographics. The level of significance was established at p < 0.05. This work was conducted according to Helsinki declaration and Brazilian law. Results: Scores relative to global QoL (p = 0.18) and emotional function (p = 0.59) did not differ in pts as compared to controls. Pts presented worse scores in swallowing, senses, speech, pain, dental problems, xerostomia and mouth opening (all p < 0.05). Emotional function (r = 0.316, p = 0.041) and financial worries (r = −0.509, p = 0.001) impacted on global QoL, what did not happen with marital status, income and level of education, age or previous surgery. Chronic pain was more prevalent in oral cavity tumors than in other sites such as pharynx or larynx tumors (p = 0.046 and p = 0.030, respectively). Pts with larynx tumors presented worse cough score as compared to those with pharynx tumors (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Providing continuous oral and dental care seems to be important to address survivors’ concerns. Financial distress could be ameliorated by a better social support system. Tumor site seem to affect differently some domains of HRQoL, in contrast to organ preservation. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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Assessment of the life quality in head and neck cancer patients.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.e16005 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e16005-e16005

Author(s):

Ebru Atasever Akkas ◽

Birsen Yucel ◽

Saadettin Kilickap ◽

Yillar Okur ◽

Turgut Kacan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Life Quality ◽

Social Contact ◽

Sign Test ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

European Organization ◽

Eortc Qlq

e16005 Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of radiotherapy on the life quality in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Between 2007 and 2010 years, 82 head and neck cancer patients who had taken radiotherapy at Cumhuriyet University Department of Radiation Oncology were assessed at the beginning, midline of the treatment and 1 and 6 months after radiotherapy with European Organization for Reseach and Treatment of Cancer Ouality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35). Wilcoxon sign test were used in the statistical analysis in SPSS version 15.0. Results: Seventy two (%88) men, 10 (%12) women; were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 57 (20-80). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequently seen case in 69 (%84) patients. The distribution of the patients according to the localization: larynx carcinoma in 37 (%45) patients, oral cavity tumor in 21 (%26) patients, nasopharynx carcinoma in 14 (%17) patients, paraphypopharynx in 8 (%10) patients and primary unknown in 2 (%2) patients were present. All the symptom scores were affected negatively at the midline, the end, 1 mount after radiotherapy than before the radiotherapy. Pain, swallowing, speech, social eating, social contact, less sexuality, feeling ill, weight loss, weight gain of the symptoms scale scores showed significant improvement at 6 months after the radiotherapy (p<0,05). However it was seen that senses, teeth problems, dry mouth, sticky saliva were affected negatively in the 6th month of radiotherapy than the beginning. Conclusions: In radiotherapy, the life quality of the patients has significantly degraded during the treatment and 1 month after the treatment. However after six months, all the symptom scales were measured as in the beginning. [Table: see text]

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Prospective, Longitudinal Quality-of-Life Study of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Feasibility Study Including the EORTC QLQ-C30

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/s0194-5998(97)70246-8 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 116 (6) ◽

pp. 666-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Eva Hammerlid ◽

Kristin Bjordal ◽

Marianne Ahlner-ELMQVIST ◽

Magnus Jannert ◽

Stein Kaasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Eortc Qlq C30 ◽

Eortc Qlq

Despite modern advances in the treatment of head and neck cancer, the survival rate fails to improve. Considering the different treatment modalities involved, quality of life has been thought of as an additional end point criterion for use in clinical trials. A Nordic protocol to measure the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients before, during, and after treatment was established. Before the study, a pilot study was done with this protocol. The main purpose of this pilot study was to find out whether this cancer population would answer quality-pf-life questionnaires repeatedly (six times) over a 1-year period and whether the chosen questionnaires—a core questionnaire (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)), a tumor-specific questionnaire, and a psychological distress measure (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD))—were sensitive for changes to functions and symptoms during the study year. The results presented in this article all refer to the pilot study. Forty-eight consecutive patients agreed to participate in the study. The most common tumor locations were the oral cavity (17) and the larynx (12). Almost all patients received combined treatment: 45 of 48 radiation therapy, 18 of 48 chemotherapy, and 17 of 48 surgery. After the primary treatment, 40 patients had complete tumor remission. Four of the 48 patients did not answer any questionnaires and were therefore excluded from the study. Of the remaining 44 patients, 3 died during the study year, and another 6 withdrew for various reasons. Thirty-five (85%) of the 41 patients alive at the 1-year follow-up answered all six questionnaires and thus completed the study. Mailed questionnaires were used throughout the study. All questionnaires were well accepted and found to be sensitive to changes during the study year. The greatest variability was found for symptoms and functions related specifically to head and neck cancer. The symptoms were swallowing difficulties, hoarse voice, sore mouth, dry mouth, and problems with taste. They all showed the same pattern, with an increase of symptoms during and just after finishing the treatment. The HAD scale revealed a high level of psychological distress, with 21% probable cases of psychiatric morbidity at diagnosis. In conclusion, it was shown that the study design and questionnaires were feasible for the forthcoming prospective quality-of-life assessment of Swedish and Norwegian head and neck cancer patients.

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Identifying cutoff scores for the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the head and neck cancer-specific module EORTC QLQ-H&N35 representing unmet supportive care needs in patients with head and neck cancer

Head & Neck ◽

10.1002/hed.24266 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 (S1) ◽

pp. E1493-E1500 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Femke Jansen ◽

Claire F. Snyder ◽

C. René Leemans ◽

Irma M. Verdonck-de Leeuw

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Supportive Care ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Supportive Care Needs ◽

Care Needs ◽

Eortc Qlq C30 ◽

Cutoff Scores ◽

Eortc Qlq

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Methodological approach for determining the Minimal Important Difference and Minimal Important Change scores for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-HN43) exemplified by the Swallowing scale

10.21203/rs.3.rs-180141/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Susanne Singer ◽

Eva Hammerlid ◽

Iwona M. Tomaszewska ◽

Cecilie Delphin Amdal ◽

Kristin Bjordal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Standard Deviation ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Performance Status ◽

Minimal Important Difference ◽

Predictive Modelling ◽

Important Change ◽

Minimal Important Change ◽

Eortc Qlq

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to explore what methods should be used to determine the minimal important difference (MID) and minimal important change (MIC) in scores for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Module, the EORTC QLQ-HN43.Methods In an international multi-centre study, patients with head and neck cancer completed the EORTC QLQ-HN43 before the onset of treatment (t1), three months after baseline (t2), and six months after baseline (t3). The methods explored for determining the MID were: 1) group comparisons based on performance status; 2) 0.5 and 0.3 standard deviation and standard error of the mean. The methods examined for the MIC were patients' subjective change ratings and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves, predictive modelling, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean. The EORTC QLQ-HN43 Swallowing scale was used to investigate these methods.Results From 28 hospitals in 18 countries, 503 patients participated. Correlations with the performance status were |r|<0.4 in 17 out of 19 scales; hence, performance status was regarded as an unsuitable anchor. The ROC approach yielded an implausible MIC and was also discarded. The remaining approaches worked well and delivered MID values ranging from 10 to 14; the MIC for deterioration ranged from 8 to 16 and the MIC for improvement from -3 to -14.Conclusions For determining MIDs of the remaining scales of the EORTC QLQ-HN43, we will omit comparisons of groups based on the Karnofsky Performance Score. Other external anchors are needed instead. Distribution-based methods worked well and will be applied as a starting strategy for analyses. For the calculation of MICs, subjective change ratings, predictive modelling, and standard-deviation based approaches are suitable methods whereas ROC analyses seem to be inappropriate.

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