Validation of EQ-5D in patients with cervical cancer in Taiwan

Purpose: The survival rate of cervical cancer is increasing due to early diagnosis and timely treatment. As a result, the availability of a valid and reliable general HRQoL is important. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D) in patients with cervical cancer in Taiwan. Method: Outpatients with cervical cancer were recruited from three medical centers across Taiwan. Test-retest reliability and ceiling effect were evaluated. Construct validity including convergent and discriminate validities were examined using the EORTC QLQ C-30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) and the clinical indicators of the functional performance assessment using the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and disease status. Results: A total of 530 patients completed the questionnaire. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the EQ-5D index was 0.83, and the Cohen's kappa values for the EQ-5D dimensions ranged from 0.54 to 0.73. The EQ-5D index and VAS scores were higher for patients with a higher KPS score and disease-free status. The EQ-5D index was strongly correlated with all EORTC QLQ-C30 functioning scales. Conclusion: The EQ-5D questionnaire is reliable and valid for the assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with cervical cancer in Taiwan.