10074-NQPC-5 Application of EORTC QLQ-C30 in brain tumor treatment

Abstract Objective This study examines the EORTC QLQ-C30, a questionnaire that assesses health-related QOL in individuals unable to live as they did before their illness. The authors analyze the structure of EORTC QLQ-C30 and discuss its clinical application. Results QLQ-C30 consists of 30 questions. The first five are about basic physical functions. The next two are about work and vacation performance. The next 12 are about physical symptoms. The next 11 are about concentration, memory, and mental status in social life. Question 28 is about financial status. These 28 questions are experience-based and are answered using a four-level scale (not at all, a little, a lot, or very much). Respondents are not required to provide answers based on guideline diagnostic criteria for constipation or pain. After answering these 28 questions, which cover a wide range of physical and mental functions and living conditions, respondents rate their overall health and quality of life on a scale from 1 to 7. A final rating of global health (mental and physical health) is displayed. There, a combination of 4 (neither good nor bad) and 5 (slightly good) receives a 58-point rating for good global health. However, a combination of fairly good (6) and slightly bad (3) or 7 and 2 also receives a 58-point rating. In such cases, the evaluation of global health is iridescent. Discussion and Conclusion 1) It is difficult to compare the clinician’s evaluation of treatment results based on internationally authorized evaluation guidelines with the QOL values that patients display based on their subjective experience of living conditions. Exploring patients’ mental and physical health levels is equivalent to going inside their minds. 2) However, quality of life ratings may be useful for early diagnosis of tumor recurrence in a patient population.