Validity and reliability study on traditional Chinese FACT-C in Chinese patients with colorectal neoplasm

Abstract

Objective To establish the validity and reliability of traditional Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C). Methods A total of 536 subjects self-administered (n=331) or interviewer-administered (n=205) FACT-C (version 4), EORTC QLQ-C30/CR38 and SF-12v2 instruments for health-related quality of life assessment. Construct validity was examined by item-scale correlation, scaling success and concurrent validity. Reliability was evaluated by test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Sensitivity was assessed by known-groups comparisons. Results The completion rates for FACT-C were almost perfect (>98%). The FACT-C demonstrated item-internal consistency and item discriminant validity through item-scale correlation. Scaling success and concurrent validity were satisfactory to support the construct validity. The five subscales of the FACT-C showed good internal consistency with Cronbach alpha coefficient and substantial reproducibility, demonstrating good reliability. Sensitivity was supported when there were significant differences in scores related to physical condition between patients who were receiving treatment and those who were not. Conclusion Traditional Chinese version of the FACT-C was demonstrated to have satisfactory psychometric properties in terms of applicability, reliability, validity and sensitivity in Chinese patients with colorectal neoplasm. The FACT-C was valid colorectal-specific health-related quality of life tool for the Chinese population. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.