Use of modules under development

The module development process is divided into three phases. Phases I and II are in an early stage of development. From Phase III onwards they are completed.

Modules that have completed Phase III are available for general use, but although they have been carefully developed and tested for acceptability with patients, they have not undergone psychometric testing in a large international group of patients unlike the fully validated modules.

Rules for using EORTC modules:

Modules that have completed Phase III are the property of EORTC Quality of Life Group (QLG) and may only be used via the EORTC Quality of Life Dept. (QLD) and under the following conditions:

  1. Explicit permission of EORTC (QLD) is granted.
  2. RECIPIENT confirms that this study is being conducted without direct or indirect sponsorship or support from pharmaceutical, medical appliance or related, for-profit health care industries.
  3. The module is used in conjunction with the EORTC QLQ-C30 or other core questionnaire. Exceptions to this rule will need to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
  4. The module is left completely intact. Additional items may be added at the end. In exceptional cases, use of subscales within a module need to be approved by the EORTC (QLD).
  5. There is a willingness, but no obligation, to share data for purposes of further psychometric validation of the module.
  6. EORTC publication rights are respected (see below).
  7. Scoring of the module should be done on the basis of information provided by EORTC.

Publication rights of EORTC modules:

  1. The module itself may not be published, except by EORTC.
  2. EORTC shall have the right to publish any paper or make any presentation which utilizes data generated under this Agreement subject to prior written consent from RECIPIENT.
  3. Collaboration may be sought with the Module Developer for scoring the module if necessary, for guidance in interpretation of results.
  4. Publications on the module that are focused primarily on the psychometrics of the questionnaire should include one of the module’s developers as a co-author. One of the module’s developers should be given the opportunity to: (1) make a contribution to the conception and design of the study, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; (2) review a draft of the article or revise it critically for important intellectual content; and (3) approve as co-author the final version to be published. For contact details for the module developer please contact EORTC QOL Dept.