International phase IV field study to validate the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire for assessing the health-related quality of life of cancer survivors: The EORTC QLQ-SURV100
Journal Title
European Journal of Cancer
Publication Type
Research article
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cancer survivors face unique and persistent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) challenges. Existing HRQoL questionnaires for survivors lack content regarding chronic physical issues and have typically included limited cancer types and languages/cultures, affecting breadth of content and generalisability. We developed and validated the EORTC QLQ-SURV100, a questionnaire to assess HRQoL in disease-free survivors of diverse cancers. A conceptual framework of HRQoL in cancer survivors, developed in previous study phases and conceptualised as survivors' self-reported physical, mental and social functioning and well-being, formed the basis for questionnaire content. METHODS: The QLQ-SURV100 was administered to 1480 participants across 46 centres in 21 countries (31% breast cancer, 23% colorectal, 22% prostate, 24% other cancers), who had completed primary treatment 1-10 years earlier and had no evidence of active disease. Structural validity of the 21 multi-item questionnaire scales was assessed via confirmatory factor analysis; test-retest reliability via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs); construct validity through known-group comparisons; and cross-cultural validity and sex invariance through differential item functioning (DIF). Item response theory (IRT) analyses evaluated item redundancy and performance. RESULTS: The QLQ-SURV100 showed strong structural validity (Comparative Fit Index = 0.951; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.944; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.046), with most standardised factor loadings  0.7. Test-retest ICCs exceeded 0.7 for 27 of 35 scales and 0.6 for 34 scales. Known-groups analyses supported most hypotheses, confirming sensitivity to treatment, comorbidity, age, sex, and education. DIF analysis indicated minor cross-cultural item bias, but no sex-related DIF. IRT analysis found no redundant items. CONCLUSIONS: The EORTC QLQ-SURV100 showed satisfactory structural validity, test-retest reliability and construct validity; limited item redundancy; and measurement invariance across the sex and language groups examined.
Publisher
Elsevier
Keywords
Humans; *Quality of Life; Female; Male; Middle Aged; *Cancer Survivors/psychology; Reproducibility of Results; Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; *Neoplasms/psychology/therapy; Adult; Psychometrics; Health Status; Europe; Cancer; Cancer survivors; Patient-reported outcome measures; Quality of life; Survivorship
Department(s)
Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre
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Creation Date: 2026-09-03 12:44:12
Last Modified: 2026-09-03 12:44:21
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