EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-Lym for the assessment of health-related quality of life of newly diagnosed lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life, Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Functional Assessment of Chronic illness Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) instruments (Greek version) in patients with lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy, as well as the comparative evaluation of the questionnaires themselves.

METHOD: Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the two previously mentioned instruments as well as the generic Short Form 36 (SF-36), which was used as a standard and its scores were compared to the corresponding norms of the Greek general population. The sample consisted of 80 newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma, who had completed their chemotherapy treatment. Reliability (Cronbach's a), central tendency and variability for the scales were assessed. Associations between the instruments' scales were examined via Spearman's correlations.

RESULTS: Cronbach's a, was >0.70 for all the scales, with exception of the emotional well being scale of FACT-Lym and two functional scales of QLQ-C30. There is a significant correlation between similar scales of the questionnaires, and particularly strong (>0.50) between global, functional and physical subscales of the FACT-Lym and QLQ-C30 instruments. Also, five scales of the SF-36, showed significantly lower mean values compared to the corresponding Greek norms.

CONCLUSIONS: The Greek versions of FACT-Lym and QLQ-C30 appear to be reliable and valid tools for assessing HRQoL in this category of patients. The two disease-specific QoL instruments complement each other and neither can be replaced by the other.