Questionnaire to assess quality of life in patients with breast cancer - Validation of the Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-BR 53.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Breast Cancer (EORTC QLQ-BR53) questionnaire firstly in north of China.

METHODS: A total of 294 outpatients with breast cancer in Tianjin Cancer Institution and Hospital from November 2014 to August 2015 were enrolled in this study. All patients self-administered the EORTC QLQ-BR25 and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scoring was performed to evaluate scores. Internal consistency reliability was determined by Cronbach's α coefficient for each dimension, with a Cronbach's α coefficient ≥0.7 considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: A satisfactory internal consistency reliability for most multi-item scales was confirmed, as Cronbach's α coefficients were close or greater than 0.7 except for breast symptoms (0.615). Multiple-trait scaling analysis demonstrated a good convergent and divergent validity of EORTC QLQ-BR53. Using SF-36 as a reference standard to evaluate the dimensions of EORTC QLQ-BR53, most items in EORTC QLQ-BR53 possessed a favorable correlation with its own dimension (r > 0.4). A statistically significant difference was discovered in dimension scores between patients grouped by ECOG scores except for individual dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-BR53 is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the quality of life among Chinese patients with breast cancer.