Validity and Reliability of EuroQol in Measurement of Health Related Quality of Life in Patients with Laryngectomy

The EuroQol generic health index comprises a five part questionnaire (EuroQolSKOR) and a visual analogue self-rating scale (EuroQolVAS). The aim of this pilot study was to test validity and reliability of EuroQol in patients with laryngectomy. The subjects were 42 otorhinolaryngology out-patients operated from laryngectomy between 1998-2003 years. EuroQolVAS applied to 22 patients with laryngectomy and repeated after a two-week interval for reliability. The reliability coefficients of testretest for EroQol are as follows: between 0.75-0.91 in EuroQol dimensions, 0.80 in EuroQolSKOR, 0.68 in EuroQolVAS. Validity of EuroQol was assessed in 42 patients with laryngectomy. It was tested validity by means of methods of concurrent validity. EuroQol showed significant and clinically relevant correlations with most scales / items of condition-specific instruments that were EORTC QLQ-C30 (global health status, functional scales; physical functioning; role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, social functioning, symptom scales / items; fatigue, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss), EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (pain, senses problems, speech problems, trouble with social eating, trouble with social contact, less sexuality, felt ill, pain killers, weight loss). EuroQolVAS showed significant relevant with swallowing, opening mouth, but it wasn't relevant between EuroQolSKOR and this items. Conversely EuroQolSKOR showed significant relevant with teeth, but EuroQolVAS wasn't. In addition to this, it wasn't determined significant correlations between EuorQol and some items of EORTC QLQ-C30 (nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, financial difficulties), EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (dry mouth, sticky saliva, coughing, nutritional supplements, weight gain). Consequently, EuroQol is simple to use, valid, responsive to change and sufficiently reliable, but further work is required on patients with laryngectomy.