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Comparison of the EORTC QLQ-BN20 and the FACT-Br quality of life questionnaires for patients with primary brain cancers: a literature review

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Abstract

Purpose

This review compares and contrasts the development, validity, and characteristics of two quality of life (QOL) assessment tools used in patients with primary brain cancers: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Brain Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-BN20) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-Br).

Methods

A literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (June 2013), Ovid EMBASE (1947 to 2013, week 27), and Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to July 2013, week 1) to identify studies that discussed the development, characteristics, validity, and reliability of the EORTC QLQ-BN20 or the FACT-Br.

Results

The EORTC QLQ-BN20 consists of 20 items that assess future uncertainty, visual disorder, motor dysfunction, and communication deficit. Items are presented as questions on a scale ranging from 1 = “not at all” to 4 = “very much.” Reliability and validity testing of the QLQ-BN20 revealed a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient that ranged from 0.71 to 0.90. The FACT-Br consists of 23 items that assess general well-being and brain cancer-specific concerns that include concentration, memory, seizures, eyesight, hearing, speech, personality, expression of thoughts, weakness, coordination, and headaches. These items are presented as statements on a scale ranging from 0 = “not applicable” to 4 = “extremely relevant.” The FACT-Br underwent validity as well as test-retest reliability testing with 101 and 46 patients, respectively. Validity testing found low to moderate correlation with the FACT-G questionnaire, while reliability testing for the brain subscale revealed an acceptable correlation coefficient (r = 0.66; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The QLQ-BN20 and the FACT-Br are both valid and reliable tools that have been used extensively in the primary brain cancer population. Choice between the two tools should consider each instrument’s individual strengths and weaknesses.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the generous support of Bratty Family Fund, Michael and Karyn Goldstein Cancer Research Fund, Joseph and Silvana Melara Cancer Research Fund, and Ofelia Cancer Research Fund.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Andrew Bottomley is an author of the EORTC QLG measurement system. These tools are provided free to academics, but the EORTC charges a user fee for the use of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in industry-sponsored research in order to cover the cost of future psychometric validation, testing, and translation of HRQoL tools. Dr. David Cella is President of FACIT.org, which licenses all FACT and FACIT tools for use in international pharmaceutical clinical trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N 3 M5, Canada

    Ronald Chow, Nicholas Lao, Marko Popovic, Edward Chow, Henry Lam, Natalie Pulenzas, Gillian Bedard, Erin Wong & Carlo DeAngelis

  2. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    David Cella & Jennifer Beaumont

  3. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

    Andrew Bottomley

Authors
  1. Ronald Chow
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  2. Nicholas Lao
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  3. Marko Popovic
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  4. Edward Chow
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  5. David Cella
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  6. Jennifer Beaumont
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  7. Henry Lam
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  8. Natalie Pulenzas
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  9. Gillian Bedard
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  10. Erin Wong
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  11. Carlo DeAngelis
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  12. Andrew Bottomley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edward Chow.

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Chow, R., Lao, N., Popovic, M. et al. Comparison of the EORTC QLQ-BN20 and the FACT-Br quality of life questionnaires for patients with primary brain cancers: a literature review. Support Care Cancer 22, 2593–2598 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2352-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2352-7

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