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Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL among cancer patients in Jordan

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Abstract

Purpose

Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome in cancer care and needs assessment by a valid questionnaire. HRQOL questionnaires need to be validated after translations to other languages and cultural settings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life 15 items Questionnaire for Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL).

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of a convenient sample of inpatients with cancer.

Results

One hundred seventy-five patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient met the 0.7 alpha criterion. Confirmatory factor analysis met the goodness of fit criteria; goodness-of-fit index (GFI), comparative fit index (CFI), normed fit index (NFI) and non-normed fit index (NNFI) >0.90 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) <0.06. All item-scale correlation coefficients exceeded the set value of 0.40, indicating satisfactory convergent validity. In terms of discriminant validity, all items in the questionnaire showed a higher item-scale correlation than item-other scale correlation, except for items 1 and 2 (physical function scale) that showed a higher correlation with fatigue. Construct validity was tested by item inter scale correlation coefficient. All constructs had correlation coefficient <0.70. External validity was tested by comparison of scores of patients who had metastasis and who did not have metastasis. Significant differences (P value <0.05) were found in all scales except for nausea. Age groups were compared and showed significant differences for physical function, fatigue, and global score of HRQOL.

Conclusion

The Arabic version of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL is valid and reliable.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation for Ms. Raja’a Sammour for tool linguistic evaluation and protocol review, and Ms. Lubna Useily and Mrs. Alice Haddadin from KHCC medical library. We would like to thank the EORTC study group on quality of life for their permission to validate the Arabic version of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palliative Medicine Department, King Hussein Cancer Center, Queen Rania street, Amman, Jordan

    Alia Alawneh

  2. Internal Medicine Department, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan

    Hesham Yasin, Ghaleb Khirfan & Bashar Abu Qayas

  3. Office of Scientific affairs, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan

    Khawla Ammar & Dalia Rimawi

  4. Department of Intensive Care Medicine, St. Olav’s University Hospital, 7006, Trondheim, Norway

    Pål Klepstad

  5. Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology; European Palliative Care Research Center, Trondheim, Norway

    Pål Klepstad

Authors
  1. Alia Alawneh
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  2. Hesham Yasin
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  3. Ghaleb Khirfan
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  4. Bashar Abu Qayas
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  5. Khawla Ammar
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  6. Dalia Rimawi
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  7. Pål Klepstad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alia Alawneh.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Alawneh, A., Yasin, H., Khirfan, G. et al. Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL among cancer patients in Jordan. Support Care Cancer 24, 2455–2462 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-3018-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-3018-9

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