Clinical and psychometric validation of a questionnaire module, the EORTC QLQ-OG25, to assess health-related quality of life in patients with cancer of the oesophagus, the oesophagogastric junction and the stomach

Pernilla Lagergren, Peter Fayers, Thierry Conroy, Hubert J Stein, Orhan Sezer, Richard Hardwick, Eva Hammerlid, Andrew Bottomley, Eric Van Cutsem, Jane M Blazeby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim
To combine and test the EORTC questionnaires for assessing quality of life (HRQL) for oesophageal (QLQ-OES18) and stomach cancer (QLQ-STO22), into a single questionnaire for tumours of the oesophagus, oesophago–gastric junction or stomach.

Methods
The QLQ-OES18, QLQ-STO22 and seven modified items were administered to 300 patients with oesophageal (n = 148), junctional (n = 66), or gastric cancer (n = 86). Semi-structured interviews assessed item and scale preference and multi-trait scaling analyses confirmed the scale structure of the new module (QLQ-OG25). This was further tested for validity.

Results
The QLQ-OG25 has six scales, dysphagia, eating restrictions, reflux, odynophagia, pain and anxiety. Scales have good reliability (α range 0.67–0.87) and they distinguish between tumour sites and disease stage. Scales do not correlate highly with scores from the core questionnaire, thus indicating that the module was addressing separate HRQL aspects.

Conclusion
The QLQ-OG25 is recommended to supplement the EORTC QLQ-C30 when assessing HRQL in patients with oesophageal, junctional or gastric cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2066-2073
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer
Volume43
Issue number14
Early online date15 Aug 2007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2007

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgement
P.L. was supported by the Karolinska Institutet (Center for Health Care Sciences), the Swedish Society for Medical Research and the Swedish Cancer Society. O.S. was supported by a research grant from Deutsche Krebshilfe, Bonn, Germany. J.M.B. was supported by the UK Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Award. We thank the Upper GI multi-disciplinary team at United Bristol Healthcare Trust, Bristol UK for allowing us to study patients under their care. We thank Joanna Nicklin and Linda Bycroft for interviewing patients in the UK and Isabella Leonard for interviewing patients in France.

Keywords

  • European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
  • EORTC QLQ-C30
  • EORTC QLQ-OES18
  • EORTC QLQ-STO22

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