Head & Neck Cancer (update of QLQ-H&N35)

Gender Neutral
Type Module
Testing Phase validated
Principal investigator(s)
Susanne Singer
University of Mainz
Mainz, Germany

Project summary

The aim of this multicentre study was to determine the psychometric properties of an updated (revised) version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-HN43).

We enrolled two groups of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients from 28 institutions in 18 countries, n=812 altogether. Group 1 were patients who were about to start their HNC treatment. They completed the questionnaires before onset of therapy (t1), 3 months later (t2), and 6 months later (t3). In this group, we tested the instrument’s sensitivity to change. Group 2 were HNC survivors, at least 2 years after diagnosis. In this group, we determined test-retest reliability. From the full sample, internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha, the scale structure with confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and divergent validity with Spearman Rank correlations, and discriminant validity with known-group comparisons.

Achievements

Phase IV is completed.

For patients

We have created a questionnaire for patients with head and neck cancer. When they complete this questionnaire, they can tell their doctor how their quality of life currently is. This is important for clinical studies because responses from different patients can then be combined easily, and the voice of the patients is heard.

Publications

Singer S., Arraras J., Chie W.C., Fisher S., Galalae R., Hammerlid E., Nicolatou-Galitis O., Schmalz C., Verdonck-de Leeuw I.M., Gamper E., Keszte J., & Hofmeister D. (2013) Performance of the EORTC questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients EORTC QLQ-H&N35. A methodological review. Quality of Life Research 22, 1927-1941.

Singer S., Arraras J., Baumann I., Boehm A., Chie W.C., Galalae R., Langendijk J.A., Guntinas-Lichius O., Hammerlid E., Pinto M., Nicolatou-Galitis O., Schmalz C., Sen M., Sherman A.C., Spiegel K., Verdonck-de Leeuw I.M., Yarom N., Zotti P., Hofmeister D., & on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life and the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Groups (2013) Quality of life in head and neck cancer patients receiving multimodal or targeted therapy – Update of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35, Phase I. Head Neck 35, 1331-1338.

Singer S, Araújo C, Arraras JI, Baumann I, Boehm A, Brokstad Herlofson B, Castro Silva J, Chie WC, Fisher S, Guntinas-Lichius O, Hammerlid E, Elisa Irarrázaval M, Jensen Hjermstad M, Jensen K, Kiyota N, Licitra L, Nicolatou-Galitis O, Pinto M, Santos M, Schmalz C, Sherman AC, Tomaszewska IM, Verdonck de Leeuw I, Yarom N, Zotti P, Hofmeister D; on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life and the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Groups. (2015) Measuring quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: Update of the EORTC QLQ-H&N Module, Phase III. Head Neck. 37, 1358-1367.

Singer S, Amdal CD, Hammerlid E, Tomaszewska IM, Castro Silva J, Mehanna H, Santos M, Inhestern J, Brannan C, Yarom N, Fullerton A, Pinto M, Arraras JI, Kiyota N, Bonomo P, Sherman AC, Baumann I, Galalae R, Fernandez Gonzalez L, Nicolatou-Galitis O, Abdel-Hafeez Z, Raber-Durlacher J, Schmalz C, Zotti P, Boehm A, Hofmeister D, Krejovic Trivic S, Loo S, Chie WC, Bjordal K, Brokstad Herlofson B, Grégoire V, Licitra L; EORTC Quality of Life and the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Groups. International validation of the revised European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Module, the EORTC QLQ-HN43: Phase IV. Head Neck. 2019 Jan 12. doi: 10.1002/hed.25609. [Epub ahead of print]

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