Reliability and Validity of the Greek QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20 for Measuring Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Greek EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20 instruments. METHOD A sample of myeloma patients (N = 89) from two tertiary hospitals were surveyed with the QLQ-C30, QLQ-MY20 and various demographic and disease related questions. The previously validated Greek SF-36 instrument was used as a "gold standard" for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) comparisons. Hypothesized scale structure, internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) and various forms of construct validity (convergent, discriminative, concurrent and known-groups) were assessed. RESULTS Multitrait scaling confirmed scale structure of the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-MY20, with good item convergence (96% and 72%) and discrimination (78% and 58%) rates. Cronbach's α was >0.70 for all but one scale (cognitive functioning). Spearman's correlations between similar QLQ-C30 and SF-36 scales ranged between 0.35-0.80 (P < 0.001). Expected interscale correlations and known-groups comparisons supported construct validity. QLQ-MY20 scales showed comparatively lower correlations with QLQ-C30 functional scales, and higher correlations with conceptually related symptom scales. CONCLUSIONS The observed psychometric properties of the two instruments imply suitability for assessing myeloma HRQoL in Greece. Future studies should focus on generalizability of the results, as well as on specific issues such as longitudinal validity and responsiveness.