The Reliability and Effectiveness of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) in Head and Neck Cancer

We aimed to test the validation of the European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaires for head and neck module (QLQ-H&N35) in a tertiary care center.

Forty patients with head and neck malignancy completed the QLQ-H&N35 while undergoing their treatment. Questionnaires given to them were translated into their regional language Kannada. Evaluation of the responsiveness, reliability, and validity of the questionnaire was undertaken.

The data assessed the reliability of the scales and not validity. The questionnaire was receptive to changes over time; however, the applicability of the European questionnaire in Indian clinical set up was debatable.

Our data suggests that the EORTC QLO-H&N35 is reliable and responsive when applied to patients with head and neck cancer in India. Hence, it may be used as a platform to test validity at a multicentric level.