Establishing thresholds for clinical importance for disease-specific EORTC questionnaire modules

To improve interpretation of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data collected with the EORTC questionnaire modules, the project develops thresholds for clinical importance for the following modules: QLQ-LC29 (lung), QLQ-PR25 (prostate), QLQ-BR45 (breast), QLQ-CR29 (colorectal), QLQ-NMIBC24, QLQ-BLM30 (bladder), QLQ-EN24 (endometrium), QLQ-H&N43 (head and neck), QLQ-CX24 (cervical cancer). These thresholds will facilitate interpretation of PRO scores collected in daily clinical practice and of trial results.

Recruitment has started and is currently ongoing.
Recruitment for four of the eight cohorts was closed.

Manuscripts were shared for review with the EC.

Recruitment for four modules is currently ongoing.

Patient recruitment is ongoing; first publications were shared with the EC in March 2026.

The EORTC quality of life questionnaires are used to assess the perspective of cancer patients on their disease and its treatment. Such questionnaires allow to calculate scores that reflect the degree of a symptom or problem. This project develops thresholds that help to determine what degree of a symptom or problem should be considered clinically important. Following a previous project focusing on general symptoms and problems, this project focuses on symptoms that are specific to certain types of cancer.