Minimally important differences for interpreting European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 scores in patients with head and neck cancer

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

  • Jammbe Z. Musoro
  • Corneel Coens
  • Susanne Singer
  • Silke Tribius
  • Sjoukje F. Oosting
  • Grønvold, Mogens
  • Christian Simon
  • Jean Pascal Machiels
  • Vincent Grégoire
  • Galina Velikova
  • Kim Cocks
  • Mirjam A.G. Sprangers
  • Madeleine T. King
  • Andrew Bottomley

Background: We aimed to estimate minimally important difference (MID) for interpreting group-level change over time for European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) scores in head and neck cancer. Methods: Data were derived retrospectively from two published EORTC trials. Clinical anchors were selected using correlation strength and clinical plausibility of the given anchor/QLQ-C30 scale pair. MIDs for within-group and between-group change were estimated via the mean change method and linear regression, respectively. Distribution-based MIDs were also examined. MIDs for two of the scales, dyspnea and nausea/vomiting, are more uncertain considering their low correlations with the anchors. Results: Anchor-based MIDs could be determined for deterioration in 7 of the 14 QLQ-C30 scales assessed, and in 3 scales for improvement. MIDs varied by scale, direction of change, and anchor. Absolute MID values ranged from 5 to 15 points for within-group change and 4 to 12 for between-group change. Most MIDs were within 4 to 10 points. Conclusions: Our findings, if confirmed, will aid interpreting changes in selected QLQ-C30 scale scores over time and inform sample size calculations in future clinical trials in head and neck cancer.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftHead and Neck
Vol/bind42
Udgave nummer11
Sider (fra-til)3141-3152
ISSN1043-3074
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2020

ID: 246722517