Score interpretation thresholds for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer thyroid cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-THY34). An international prospective study
PURPOSE: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Thyroid Cancer Quality of Life (QoL) Module (EORTC QLQ-THY34) is a valid tool to assess QoL in this patient population. The present study established estimates for score interpretation thresholds for this instrument when using it with thyroid cancer patients. METHODS: Thyroid cancer patients under active treatment were contacted three times (t1: before treatment, t2: six weeks after t1, t3: six months after t2). They completed the EORTC QLQ-C30, the EORTC QLQ-THY34, and the Subjective Significance Questionnaire, indicating experienced change from the previous time point in five QoL domains. The Minimal Important Change (MIC) was established based on logistic regression models. Additionally, Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) was computed using 0.5 standard deviation and standard error of the measurement. RESULTS: Altogether, 275 patients from 15 countries participated. MIC for deterioration and improvement were respectively 5 and 1 for exhaustion, 13 and 7 for voice problems, 11 and 2 for tingling sensation, 12 and 11 for altered temperature tolerance, and 2 and 2 for overall QoL. The MDC estimates for deterioration ranged from 7 (physical functioning) to 25 (dyspnoea); for improvement, it ranged from 7 (physical functioning) to 15, for appetite loss, cramps, and altered temperature tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: No single MIC or MDC can be applied to all EORTC QLQ-THY34 scales, and the MIC for improvement are generally smaller than those for deterioration. The estimates can be used in research and clinical practice to interpret QoL scores in thyroid cancer patients.
Authors
- Silke Tribius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7754-0257)
- Kathy Taylor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0768-5789)
- Monica Pinto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0823-4907)
- Juan Ignacio Arrarás (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4415-2570)
- Laura D. Locati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3315-2580)
- Dagmar Führer-Sakel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0357-4192)
- Ricardo Ribeiro Gama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4406-8958)
- Gerasimos P. Sykiotis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9565-4941)
- Susanne Singer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5784-7964)
- Giuseppe Fanetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9677-3176)
- Marek Dedecjus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3485-8219)
- Naomi Kiyota (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8021-6116)
- Matthias Büttner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7000-8257)
- Guy Andry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7410-6519)
- Rita Canotilho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3914-0679)
- Olga Husson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1387-8686)
- Ioannis P. Iakovou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2101-3954)
- Eva B. Hammerlid (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1813-108X)
- Akram Al‐Ibraheem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0978-4716)
- Arild Andrè Østhus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0583-4106)
- Orlando Guntinas‐Lichius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9671-0784)
- Georgios Ioannidis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2535-7279)
- on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life Group, the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Group, and the EORTC Thyroid Cancer Group
Institutions
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Oslo University Hospital (NO)
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- University of Pavia (IT)
- King Hussein Cancer Center (JO)
- Nicosia General Hospital (CY)
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
- Institut Jules Bordet (BE)
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CH)
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NL)
- Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (BR)
- Kobe University Hospital (JP)
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (IT)
- Hospital de Câncer de Barretos (BR)
- IPO Porto (PT)
- Essen University Hospital (DE)
- Asklepios Klinik St. Georg (DE)
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (IT)
- Jena University Hospital (DE)
- Universitätsmedizin Rostock (DE)
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale" (IT)
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute (NL)
- The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology (PL)
- Asklepios (DE)
- University of Rostock (DE)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Universidad de Navarra (ES)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Endocrine
- Published
- 2026-10-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-026-04835-w
- Primary Topic
- Cancer survivorship and care
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
- EORTC Charitable Trust