ABSTRACT
Objective To test the effectiveness, reliability and acceptability of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-STO22 scale in gastric cancer patients in China. Methods One hundred and twenty-eight cases were collected in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University from September 2014 to April 2015. All the patients completed the EORTC QLQ-STO22 and EORTC QLQ-C30 scales and given the Zubrod-ECOG-WHO (ZPS) score. Karen Bach coefficient and Pearson correlation test were used for statistical analysis while using ZPS score to detect EORTC QLQ-STO22 in validity. After score was standardized, P<0.05 represented the difference had statistical significance. Results The Karen Bach coefficient was 0.607-0.830, confirming that the EORTC QLQ-STO22 scale had good reliability. A number of enhanced analysis showed that the scale had good convergent validity and divergent validity. In the same or similar dimension, EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 scales had good correlation and the correlation scores were higher than 0.400. The patients were divided into four groups according to ZPS score, with ZPS score increase, the overall quality of life scores were decreasing and entries associated with symptoms were increasing, showing difference between different groups(P<0.05). Conclusion The EORTC QLQ-STO22 scale shows high reliability and validity that can be used for assessing the quality of life of patients with advanced gastric cancer in China.