Evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life in Lithuanian Brain Tumor Patients Using the EORTC Brain Cancer Module

Abstract

Background and Objective. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is considered an important outcome measure in neuro-oncology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the brain cancer-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-BN20) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in Lithuanian brain tumor patients. Material and Methods. One hundred consecutive patients (71% of women; mean age, 58±14 years) admitted for elective brain tumor surgery were evaluated for HRQoL using the QLQ-BN20, QLQ-C30 (a core EORTC questionnaire for cancer patients), and SF-36 scale; for motor dysfunction (clinical examination); for cognitive dysfunction (Mini-Mental State Examination); and for disability (Barthel Index). Results. The QLQ-BN20 subscales had an adequate internal consistency (Cronbach α, 0.75– 0.90). Motor dysfunction on neurological examination was associated with greater motor dysfunction on the QLQ-BN20; greater disability, with greater future uncertainty, motor dysfunction, communication deficits, headaches, seizures, drowsiness, itchy skin, weakness of legs, and poor bladder control on the QLQ-BN20; and cognitive dysfunction, with greater future uncertainty, visual deficits, motor dysfunction, communication deficits, headaches, drowsiness, and weakness of legs symptoms on the QLQ-BN20, suggesting an adequate clinical validity of the QLQ-BN20. A score for motor dysfunction on the QLQ-BN20 correlated with a score for motor dysfunction on the QLQ-C30 and SF-36 scales; a score for headache on the QLQ-BN20, with a score for pain on the QLQ-C30 and SF-36 scales; and a score for drowsiness symptoms on the QLQ-BN20, with a score for fatigue on the QLQ-C30. Conclusions. The Lithuanian version of the EORTC-QLQ-BN20 scale has acceptable psychometric properties and can be reliably used for the assessment of HRQoL in brain tumor patients.

Validation of the Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-BN20 for patients with brain cancer

“…Besides, a score for communication deficits on the QLQ‐BN20 correlated moderately with poor cognitive functioning. This also appeared in other similar studies (Bunevičius et al., ; Osoba et al., ; Taphoorn et al., ) in which researchers had recognised that the deterioration of cognitive function leads to communication deficits (Bunevičius et al., ). The motor dysfunction scale correlated moderately with the QLQ‐C30 physical functioning scale, and less with role functioning scale, which also appeared in a past study (Taphoorn et al., ).…”

“…EORTC QLQ‐BN20 and FACT‐Br account for all patients with brain cancer, and PedsFACT‐BrS questionnaire is only used in children (Lai et al., ). EORTC QLQ‐BN20 is one of the most widely used tool for assessing HRQOL in patients with brain cancer, along with QLQ‐C30 (Bunevičius, Tamašauskas, Tamašauskas, & Deltuva, ; Caissie et al., ; Khoshnevisan et al., ; Leung et al., ; Osoba et al., ; Shin & Kim, ; Taphoorn et al., ; Terwee et al., ).…”

“…Notably, all dimension of EORTC QLQ‐BN20 had floor effect and no ceiling effect which indicated the inequality distribution of patients’ life quality and the satisfactory life quality of majority of patients, this may be related to the inclusion of patients including both inpatients and outpatients, for outpatients, they may have better performance status and disease does not seriously affect their life quality. The QLQ‐BN20 symptoms of bladder control, seizures and hair loss received the highest floor effect (Bunevičius et al., ; Khoshnevisan et al., ; Osoba et al., ; Taphoorn et al., ). These findings can be partially explained by a diverse population with respect to a diagnosis of brain cancer because seizures are more likely to occur in glial patients with brain cancer, and hair loss is the expected side effect of radiation therapy and chemotherapy (Bunevičius et al., ; Carelle et al., ; McGarvey, Baum, Pinkerton, & Rogers, ).…”

“…The QLQ‐BN20 symptoms of bladder control, seizures and hair loss received the highest floor effect (Bunevičius et al., ; Khoshnevisan et al., ; Osoba et al., ; Taphoorn et al., ). These findings can be partially explained by a diverse population with respect to a diagnosis of brain cancer because seizures are more likely to occur in glial patients with brain cancer, and hair loss is the expected side effect of radiation therapy and chemotherapy (Bunevičius et al., ; Carelle et al., ; McGarvey, Baum, Pinkerton, & Rogers, ). However, patients with other kinds of brain cancer or without radiation therapy and chemotherapy may have no symptoms.…”

Association of miR-34a Expression with Quality of Life of Glioblastoma Patients: A Prospective Study

“…The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire QLQ-30 [30] and QLQ-BN20 questionnaires [31,32] were used to evaluate preoperative health related quality of life (HRQOL) and brain tumor related symptoms. Both questionnaires were previously validated for HRQOL assessment in Lithuanian brain tumor patients [33].…”