Objective:

To validate the Colombian version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire for measuring the quality of life in patients with cancer in Colombia.

Methods:

The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory analyses. In addition, correlation between domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-G was used to measure concurrent validity. For measuring reliability, internal consistency analyses (Cronbach Alpha, McDonald's Omega and GLB coefficients) and repeated measures analyses were performed.

Results:

A total of 486 patients recruited at the National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Cancerología), in Colombia, were included in the study. Both, the standard model (14 domains) and an empirical solution having 5 domains (Physical, Psychological, Weakness, Socioeconomic and Global Score) showed to be adequate for representing the construct. The correlation between domains of FACT-G and EORTC QLQ-C30 showed low values in the domains related with social functioning. The correlation between repeated measures had values of correlation-concordance between 0.51 and 0.8; the limits of agreement of Bland and Altman scored between -38 and 43 around an expected value of 0. The values of Cronbach's Alpha, GLB and McDonald's Omega had values of 0.94 - 0.96 and 0.93, respectively.

Conclusion:

The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the quality of life of patients with cancer in Colombia.

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