Updated EORTC QLQ-C30 general population norm data for Germany

Sandra Nolte; Annika Waldmann; Gregor Liegl; Morten Aa Petersen; Mogens Groenvold; Matthias Rose; EORTC Quality of Life Group

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2020.06.002

Updated EORTC QLQ-C30 general population norm data for Germany

Eur J Cancer. 2020 Sep:137:161-170. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

Authors

Sandra Nolte¹, Annika Waldmann², Gregor Liegl³, Morten Aa Petersen⁴, Mogens Groenvold⁵, Matthias Rose³; EORTC Quality of Life Group

Affiliations

¹ Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Berlin, Germany; School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: sandra.nolte@charite.de.
² Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany; Hamburg Cancer Registry, Hamburg, Germany.
³ Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
⁴ Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 32777715
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.06.002

Abstract

Objective: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire, QLQ-C30, is a frequently used patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument to assess health-related quality of life of patients with cancer. To enhance the understanding and interpretation of PRO data, it is important to obtain norm data from the general population. This article presents updated general population norm data for the EORTC QLQ-C30 for Germany.

Methods: Data were obtained as part of a larger study collecting EORTC QLQ-C30 norm data across 15 countries via an online survey. After linear transformation of EORTC QLQ-C30 raw scores, data were weighted based on the United Nations' population distribution statistics. Data are presented by age and sex/age.

Results: A total of 1006 Germans responded to the survey. Across EORTC QLQ-C30 domains, different response patterns were observed, with men generally scoring better, that is, higher in most function scales and lower in most symptom scales/items than women. For age, mixed patterns were observed. While older respondents scored worse/lower in physical and role functioning, emotional functioning scores appeared to increase with increasing age. For the symptom scales/items, some symptoms were relatively stable across age groups, while others either increased or decreased with increasing age.

Conclusions: This study presents updated EORTC QLQ-C30 general population norm data for Germany that can readily be used for comparative purposes with data obtained from patients with cancer.

Keywords: EORTC QLQ-C30; General population; Germany; Norm data; Normative data; Patient-reported outcomes; Quality of life; Self-report; Survey.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Female
Germany
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
Psychometrics / methods*
Quality of Life / psychology*
Young Adult