Ann Surg Treat Res.  2015 Dec;89(6):287-294. 10.4174/astr.2015.89.6.287.

Validation of the Korean version of the thyroid cancer-specific quality of life questionnaire

• Jeong Y
• Choi J
• Ahn AL
• Oh EJ
• Oh HK
• Cho DY
• Kweon HJ
• Park KS

• KMID: 2148302
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2015.89.6.287

Abstract

PURPOSE
The increasing incidence of thyroid cancer worldwide has drawn attention to the needs for assessing and managing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of thyroid cancer survivors. We conducted this study to validate the Korean version of the thyroid cancer-specific quality of life (THYCA-QoL) questionnaire.
METHODS
Data obtained from 227 thyroid cancer survivors were analyzed using standard validity and reliability analysis techniques. Reliability was assessed by measuring internal consistency via Cronbach alpha coefficient, and validity was assessed by determining the Pearson correlation coefficient between the THYCA-QoL questionnaire and the following relevant assessment tools: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Korean version of Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-K), the Korean version of Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI-K), Goldberg Short Screening Scale for Anxiety and Depression, and a nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A multitrait scaling analysis was performed to assess each item's convergent and discriminant validity.
RESULTS
The reliability of the THYCA-QoL questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach alpha coefficients for multiple-item scales which ranged from 0.54 (sensory) to 0.82 (psychological). Except for a single item (sexual interest), the questionnaire's validity was established by significant correlation observed between scales in the THYCA-QoL questionnaire and scales used in other assessment tools. A multitrait scaling analysis confirmed that all scales met the recommended psychometric standards.
CONCLUSION
The Korean version of the THYCA-QoL questionnaire is a reliable and valid assessment tool that can be used in combination with the EORTC QLQ-C30 to assess the HRQoL of thyroid cancer survivors in Korea.

Keyword

Thyroid neoplasms; Quality of life; Validity; Korea

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Fatigue
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Mass Screening
Psychometrics
Quality of Life*
Reproducibility of Results
Survivors
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms
Weights and Measures

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