An international field study of the EORTC QLQ-PR25: A questionnaire for assessing the health-related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) 2008-11, Vol.44 (16), p.2418-2424
• Main Authors: van Andel, George, Bottomley, Andrew, Fosså, Sophie D, Efficace, Fabio, Coens, Corneel, Guerif, Stephane, Kynaston, Howard, Gontero, Paolo, Thalmann, George, Akdas, Atif, D’Haese, Sven, Aaronson, Neil K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Bladder function; Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Patient Satisfaction; Patient-reported outcome; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - psychology; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Questionnaire; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology; Sexuality; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tumors; Urinary function; Urinary Incontinence - etiology
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2008.07.030

Abstract Aim To evaluate the psychometrics of the EORTC QLQ-PR25, a questionnaire assessing the health-related quality of life of prostate cancer patients. Methods The QLQ-PR25 and the QLQ-C30 were administered to 642 prostate cancer patients from 13 countries treated with curative or palliative intent. The QLQ-PR25 assesses urinary, bowel and sexual symptoms and functioning, and the side-effects of hormonal treatment. Results Five hundred and nine patients were available for the final analysis. Multitrait scaling analyses confirmed the hypothesised scale structure of the QLQ-PR25. Internal consistency reliability was good (coefficient α = 0.70–0.86) for the urinary symptoms and sexual function scales, but lower for the bowel function and side-effects of hormonal treatment scales ( α < 0.70). The module discriminated clearly between clinically distinct patient subgroups, and was responsive to changes in health status over time. Conclusion In general, the QLQ-PR25 demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and clinical validity. Some caution should be used in interpreting the bowel function and side-effects of hormonal therapy scales; results can be reported at the individual item and scale level.