- Journal Details
- Format
- Journal
- First Published
- 30 Apr 2007
- Publication timeframe
- 4 times per year
- Languages
- English
The aim of our study was to obtain reference data of the EORTC QLQ-C30 quality of life dimensions for the general Slovenian population. We intend to provide the researchers and clinicians in our country with the expected mean health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores for distinctive socio-demographic population groups.
The EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire supplemented by a socio-demographic inquiry was mailed or distributed to 1,685 randomly selected individuals in the Slovenian population aged 18 – 90. Answers from 1,231 subjects representing socio-demographic diversity of the Slovenian population were collected and transformed into EORTC dimensions and symptoms. The impact of socio-demographic features on HRQL scores was assessed by multiple linear regression models.
Gender, age and self-rated social class are the important confounders in the quality of life scores in our population. Men reported better quality of life on the majority of the specific scales and, at the same time, reported fewer symptoms. There was no gender-specific difference in cognitive functioning. The mean scores were consistently lower with age in both sexes.
This is the first study to report the normative EORTC QLQ-C30 scores for one of the south-eastern European populations. The reported expected mean scores allow Slovenian oncologists to estimate what the quality of life in cancer patients would be, had they not been ill. As they are derived by common methodology, our results can easily be included in any further international comparisons or in the calculation of European summarized HRQL scores.
Key words
- health-related quality of life
- EORTC QLQ-C30
- normative values
- socio-demographic determinants
- reference data
FIGURE 1
Regression coefficients with constants for all scales and items applied in the calculation of the expected mean scores according to gender, age and social class in Slovenian population
| Men | 18-39 years | 40-59 years | Lower social class | Middle social class | Constant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global health status/quality of life | -0.07 | 0.30 | 0.21 | 0.30 | -0.12 | 71.5 |
| Physical functioning | -0.11 | 0.42 | 0.29 | -0.25 | -0.08 | 89.6 |
| Role functioning | -0.07 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 0.20 | -0.05 | 91.6 |
| Emotional functioning | -0.09 | 0.04 | 0.06 | -0.11 | 0.00 | 83.7 |
| Cognitive functioning | 0.00 | 0.21 | 0.16 | -0.15 | -0.06 | 88.6 |
| Social functioning | -0.04 | 0.17 | 0.12 | -0.17 | -0.03 | 90.6 |
| Fatigue | 0.13 | -0.10 | -0.12 | 0.19 | 0.05 | 16.8 |
| Nausea/vomiting | 0.03 | 0.03 | -0.06 | 0.02 | -0.08 | 4.5 |
| Pain | 0.07 | -0.26 | -0.17 | 0.19 | 0.05 | 15.7 |
| Dispnea | 0.02 | -0.22 | -0.15 | 0.09 | -0.01 | 8.4 |
| Insomnia | 0.12 | -0.18 | -0.16 | 0.08 | -0.01 | 21.9 |
| Appetite loss | 0.01 | 0.05 | -0.04 | 0.09 | -0.07 | 5.3 |
| Constipation | 0.13 | -0.10 | -0.05 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 4.8 |
| Diarrhoea | -0.02 | -0.05 | -0.02 | 0.00 | -0.04 | 5.8 |
| Financial problems | 0.02 | -0.08 | -0.02 | 0.23 | 0.03 | 4.3 |
Socio-demographic characteristics of the sample by gender and its comparisons with national averages21,20
| Men Number (%) | Women Number (%) | Total Number (%) | National reference (S,C) As a national reference the data from Statistical Office of the Republic Slovenia (S) and Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention in Slovenia (C) is applied | p (chi square) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.582 | |||||
| Men | 619 (50.3) | 49.51S | |||
| Women | 612 (49.7) | 50.5 S | |||
| 0.140 | |||||
| 18-39 years | 224 (36.2) | 188 (30.7) | 412 (33.5) | 35.7 S | |
| 40-59 years | 230 (37.2) | 262 (42.8) | 492 (40.0) | 37.4 S | |
| 60-90 years | 165 (26.7) | 162 (26.5) | 327 (26.6) | 26.9 S | |
| <0.000 | |||||
| With a partner | 441 (71.2) | 439 (71.2) | 880 (71.5) | 76.7 C | |
| Single | 178 (28.8) | 173 (28.3) | 351 (28.5) | 23.3 C | |
| 0.054 | |||||
| Elementary or less | 107 (17.3) | 101 (16.5) | 208 (16.9) | 16.7 C | |
| Secondary school | 346 (55.9) | 298 (48.7) | 644 (52.3) | 55.4 C | |
| More than secondary school | 166 (26.8) | 213 (34.8) | 379 (30.8) | 27.9 C | |
| 0.100 | |||||
| Employed | 338 (54.6) | 325 (53.1) | 663 (53.9) | 53.5 C | |
| Unemployed | 39 (6.3) | 45 (7.4) | 84 (6.8) | 8.5 C | |
| Not active | 242 (39.1) | 242 (39.5) | 484 (39.3) | 38.1 C | |
| 0.103 | |||||
| Urban | 187 (30.2) | 235 (28.4) | 422 (34.3) | 31.5 C | |
| Suburban | 119 (19.2) | 150 (24.5) | 269 (21.9) | 23.2 C | |
| Rural | 313 (50.6) | 227 (37.1) | 540 (43.9) | 45.3 C | |
| 0.230 | |||||
| West | 125 (20.2) | 170 (27.8) | 295 (24.0) | 22.3 C | |
| Central | 179 (28.9) | 194 (28.9) | 373 (30.3) | 29.9 C | |
| East | 315 (50.9) | 248 (40.5) | 563 (45.7) | 47.8 C | |
| <0.000 | |||||
| Lower | 214 (34.6) | 189 (30.9) | 403 (32.7) | 42.2 C | |
| Middle | 340 (54.9) | 351 (57.4) | 691 (56.1) | 47.9 C | |
| Upper | 65 (10.5) | 72 (11.8) | 137 (11.1) | 9.9 C |
Mean scores (MS) with standard deviations (SD) for all scales and items by gender
| Total | Men | Women | p (t-test) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS | SD | MS | SD | MS | SD | ||
| Global health status/quality of life | 71.1 | 21.4 | 72.5 | 21.4 | 69.7 | 21.3 | 0.882 |
| Physical functioning | 91.8 | 14.0 | 93.3 | 12.6 | 90.3 | 15.1 | <0.000 |
| Role functioning | 88.7 | 20.1 | 90.0 | 19.3 | 87.5 | 20.9 | 0.056 |
| Emotional functioning | 82.0 | 18.5 | 83.6 | 18.4 | 80.4 | 18.5 | 0.686 |
| Cognitive functioning | 90.2 | 16.0 | 90.2 | 16.3 | 90.2 | 15.7 | 0.760 |
| Social functioning | 90.9 | 17.3 | 91.6 | 16.9 | 90.2 | 17.8 | 0.094 |
| Fatigue | 19.8 | 19.8 | 17.4 | 19.3 | 22.2 | 20.0 | 0.769 |
| Nausea/vomiting | 3.3 | 10.6 | 3.0 | 10.2 | 3.5 | 11.0 | 0.116 |
| Pain | 14.5 | 20.2 | 13.1 | 19.6 | 16.0 | 20.8 | 0.134 |
| Dispnea | 5.3 | 15.3 | 5.0 | 14.7 | 5.7 | 15.8 | 0.087 |
| Insomnia | 19.8 | 25.1 | 16.8 | 23.9 | 22.8 | 25.9 | 0.056 |
| Appetite loss | 5.3 | 15.5 | 5.3 | 16.0 | 5.2 | 15.1 | 0.795 |
| Constipation | 6.9 | 16.9 | 4.6 | 13.8 | 9.2 | 19.3 | <0.000 |
| Diarrhoea | 4.2 | 13.6 | 4.4 | 14.1 | 4.0 | 13.0 | 0.247 |
| Financial problems | 6.6 | 17.5 | 6.4 | 17.2 | 6.9 | 17.9 | 0.385 |
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