Abstract
Objective
Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common cancer in young men, and its incidence is increasing. The low mortality rate makes
quality of life (QOL) an important issue in this patient group. This study aimed to develop a supplementary module of the
EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire to assess TC-specific aspects of QOL.
quality of life (QOL) an important issue in this patient group. This study aimed to develop a supplementary module of the
EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire to assess TC-specific aspects of QOL.
Methods
Questionnaire development was conducted according to guidelines from the EORTC Quality of Life Group. Phase I comprised generation
of QOL issues relevant to TC patients through a literature search and interviews with patients and experts. Phase II included
operationalization and assessment of item relevance. In phase III, items were pre-tested in a cross-cultural sample to assess
issues such as understandability and intrusiveness of items.
of QOL issues relevant to TC patients through a literature search and interviews with patients and experts. Phase II included
operationalization and assessment of item relevance. In phase III, items were pre-tested in a cross-cultural sample to assess
issues such as understandability and intrusiveness of items.
Results
In phase I and II, an initial list of 69 QOL issues possibly relevant to TC patients was refined through patient and expert
interviews. The remaining 37 issues were operationalized into items and assessed for relevance and priority in an expert sample
(n = 28) and a patient sample (n = 62) from Austria, Canada and the Netherlands. After revision of the item list, 26 items were considered eligible for pre-testing
in phase III, in which 156 patients from Australia, Austria, Italy and Spain participated. All items passed criteria for pre-testing,
thus forming the new EORTC QLQ-TC26.
interviews. The remaining 37 issues were operationalized into items and assessed for relevance and priority in an expert sample
(n = 28) and a patient sample (n = 62) from Austria, Canada and the Netherlands. After revision of the item list, 26 items were considered eligible for pre-testing
in phase III, in which 156 patients from Australia, Austria, Italy and Spain participated. All items passed criteria for pre-testing,
thus forming the new EORTC QLQ-TC26.
Conclusion
The newly developed EORTC QLQ-TC26 is now available in several languages to assess QOL in TC patients receiving treatment
and in TC survivors. Phase IV of questionnaire development will comprise international field testing, including extensive
analysis of psychometric characteristics of the EORTC QLQ-TC26.
and in TC survivors. Phase IV of questionnaire development will comprise international field testing, including extensive
analysis of psychometric characteristics of the EORTC QLQ-TC26.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-012-0147-1
- Authors
- Bernhard Holzner, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Fabio Efficace, Health Outcomes Research Unit, Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Diseases (GIMEMA) Data Center, Rome, Italy
- Umberto Basso, Medical Oncology 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV) IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Colin D. Johnson, University Surgical Unit, Southampton University Hospitals, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD UK
- Neil K. Aaronson, Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Juan I. Arraras, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital of Navarre, C/Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Navarre, Pamplona, Spain
- Allan B. Smith, Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Edward Chow, Department of Radiation Oncology, Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, 2075, Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M, Canada
- Anne S. Oberguggenberger, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Andrew Bottomley, EORTC Headquarters Quality of Life Department, Ave. E. Mounier 83, 11 1200 Brussels, Belgium
- Hannes Steiner, Center of Operative Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Luca Incrocci, Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus MC-Daniel Den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Johannes M. Giesinger, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343