Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire to Assess Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire -Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy 20 items (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. Methods: A convenience sample of 249 Korean cancer patients, previously or currently, being treated with peripheral neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. Construct validity, known-group validity, concurrent validity, and internal consistency reliability of the Korean version of the QLQ-CIPN20 were evaluated. Results: Factor analysis confirmed 3 dimensions of CIPN: sensory, motor, and autonomic. The factor loadings of the 20 items on the 3 subscales ranged from .38 to .85. The 3 subscale-model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis (GFI= .90, AGFI= .86, RMSR= .05, NFI= .87, and CFI= .94), and concurrent validity was demonstrated with the EORTC QLQ-C30. Furthermore, the QLQ-CIPN20 established known-group validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for internal consistency of the subscales ranged from .73 to .89. Conclusion: The Korean version of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 showed satisfactory construct, concurrent, and known-group validity, as well as internal reliability.

Relationship between Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Quality of Life in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

“…The Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient in a study by Yun et al, [26] was .70 or higher, aside from the cognitive functional scale (.60). The Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient values in the study by Kim et al, [22] were .77, .83, and .78, respectively, for the global health status, functional, and symptom scales, while the coefficient values of the present study were .88, .78, and .75, respectively.…”

“…This study was a secondary data analysis based on the study by Kim et al, [22]. Kim et al, [22] verified the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire -chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) on patients with solid tumors (including breast, gastric, and colorectal cancers) and hematological malignancies (malignant lymphoma, MM, and leukemia) after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Boards (IRB) of the C National University H Hospital, located in J Province (IRB No 2012-148), and the C National University Hospital, located in J Province (IRB No 2012-10-002-001), in South Korea.…”

“…Manifested peripheral neuropathy characteristics were itemized by performing a secondary data analysis according to the study by Kim et al, [22]. Specifically, this study had the following objectives: 1) to determine the degree of relevancy between CIPN-related symptoms and health-related QOL in patients with hematologic malignancies, 2) to determine score differences between the CIPN-related symptoms and health-related QOL of patients with hematologic malignancies according to their general and clinical characteristics, and 3) to determine the relationship between CIPN-related symptoms and health-related QOL of patients with hematologic malignancies.…”

Rasch model-based testing of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire–Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (QLQ-CIPN20) using Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) A151408 study data

“…While multiple papers support the QLQ-CIPN20’s reliability, validity, sensitivity, and responsiveness based on CTT methods [20–28], to our knowledge, this is the first paper to suggest that the QLQ-CIPN20 items and response options are not ideal, based on Rasch model testing. Although the findings are consistent with other published reports suggesting the QLQ-CIPN20 is a unidimensional scale [23, 25], disordered/nonordinal or narrow response thresholds affecting 11 of the 20 items suggest several potential problems with the CIPN20 items.…”

“…Examples of CIPN PRO measures include the Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) [16], the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT-GOG/Ntx) scale [17, 18], and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire–Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (QLQ-CIPN20) [19]. Because the QLQCIPN20 has been widely used and extensively tested [20–28], it has potential to move forward as the gold standard PRO measure.…”