2Department of Preventive Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara-Turkey DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2019.2195 OBJECTIVE
To assess the validity and reliability of the EORTC-QLQ-HN35 in Turkish head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.
METHODS
EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN35 scales were completed by patients at the beginning, middle and end
of radiotherapy. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach alpha and test-retest reliability by intraclass
correlation coefficients (ICCs). Content validity was based on expert opinion and patient reviews.
RESULTS
Eighty patients were included in this study. Mean age was 59±10.7 years. Overall internal consistency
was satisfactory (?=0.926). Overall test-retest reliability was satisfactory and ICCs ranged between 0.77
and 0.84. Correlations between corresponding domains of QLQ-C30 and HN35 showed satisfactory
convergent validity (r=0.61 to r=0.73). Assessments based on expert opinions and patient reviews also
favored the content validity of the scale.
CONCLUSION
The Turkish version of the QLQ-HN35 scale is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the health-related
quality of life in patients with HNC.