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Assessment of radiation-induced xerostomia: validation of the Italian version of the xerostomia questionnaire in head and neck cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

Xerostomia is the most common acute and late side effect of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Affecting taste perception, chewing, swallowing and speech, xerostomia is also the major cause of decreased quality of life. The aims of this study were to validate the Italian translation of the self-reported eight-item xerostomia questionnaire (XQ) and determine its psychometric properties in patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Methods

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiotherapy Unit of the Veneto Institute of Oncology – IOV in Padua. The XQ was translated according to international guidelines and filled out by 102 patients. Construct validity was assessed using principal component analysis, internal consistency using Cronbach’s α coefficient and test-retest reliability at 1-month interval using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Criterion-related validity was evaluated to compare the Italian version of XQ with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and its Head and Neck Cancer Module (QLQ-H&N35).

Results

Cronbach’s α for the Italian version of XQ was strong at α = 0.93, test-retest reliability was also strong (0.79) and factor analysis confirmed that the questionnaire was one-dimensional. Criterion-related validity was excellent with high association with the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 xerostomia and sticky saliva scales.

Conclusions

The Italian version of XQ has excellent psychometric properties and can be used to evaluate the impact of emerging radiation delivery techniques aiming at preventing xerostomia.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiotherapy Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Via Gattamelata, 64, 35128, Padova, Italy

    Federica Pellegrino, Elena Groff & Guido Sotti

  2. Institute of Clinical Physiology of the Italian National Research Council (IFC-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Luca Bastiani

  3. ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Unit, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2, 56100, Pisa, Italy

    Bruno Fattori

Authors
  1. Federica Pellegrino
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  2. Elena Groff
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  3. Luca Bastiani
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  4. Bruno Fattori
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  5. Guido Sotti
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Correspondence to Federica Pellegrino.

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Pellegrino, F., Groff, E., Bastiani, L. et al. Assessment of radiation-induced xerostomia: validation of the Italian version of the xerostomia questionnaire in head and neck cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 23, 925–932 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2438-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2438-2

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