Table 1.

Site specific (Head and neck cancer) QOL measures

Measures		Validity			Reliability			Format (Number, scale, administration options)	Interpretability
	Frequency (Of 710 studies)	Content	Criterion	Construct	Internal consistency	Test-retest	Inter-rater			Structure	Responsiveness in HNC patients	Translations
AQLQ¹⁰²	3	X		X	X	X		Items: Not reported Scale: Mixed format: 2, 3, 4, and 7 pt Likert type	Dimensions: physical functioning, symptoms, social functioning, psychological functioning, well-being; Also contains single overall life satisfaction item Scoring: no global score Time frame of assessment: not reported		X
EORTC QLQ-H&N35³⁷	244^*		X	X	X			Items: 35 Scale: 4 pt Likert type for all but 5 items (yes/no)	Dimensions: Seven scales: pain, swallowing, senses, speech, social eating, social contact, sexuality Scoring: Scores transformed to 0–100 scales Time frame of assessment: past week	I	X	X
FACT-HN⁴⁰	86^*	X		X	X^†			Items: 11 (module) and 27 (FACT-G) Scale: 5 pt Likert type	Dimensions: physical, functional areas of performance, social functioning, relationship with physician, emotional well-being Scoring: Global and domain/module score (module score range 0–48) Time frame of assessment: past 7 days	F	X	X
FACT-NP¹⁰³	^*	X	X	X	X	X		Items: 16 (module) and 27 (FACT-G) Scale: 5 pt Likert type	Dimensions: physical, social/family, emotional, and functional well being and nasopharyngeal carcinoma subscale Scoring: domain score – sum of NPC subscale – range 0–64 Time frame of assessment: past 7 days		X	X
FSCI^44,45	3			X	X			Items: 15 Scale: 5 pt Likert type	Dimensions: 3 subscales: emotional, social, and appearance Scoring: subscale scores and total skin cancer index score, standardized score range 0–100; Time frame of assessment: At present moment	F	X
FSH&N-SR¹⁰⁴	1			X	X			Items: 15 + free hand item Scale: 5 pt Likert type	Dimensions: 12 symptom categories: upper body mobility, chewing, swallowing, drooling, taste, dry mouth, eating, speech, breathing, appearance, pain, fatigue; items include an overall QOL item Scoring: scores range from 15–75 Time frame of assessment: past week
H&NS¹⁰⁵	1			X	X	X		Items: 13 Scale: 5 pt Likert type	Dimensions: eating/swallowing, speech/communication, appearance, head and neck pain Scoring: Global and domain score, score range 0–100 Time frame of assessment: past 4 weeks
HNCI⁴³	8		X	X	X	X		Items: 30 Scale: 5 pt Likert type	Dimensions: Four domains: speech, eating, aesthetics, social disruption, an overall QOL item Scoring: score range 0–100; domain, functional, attitudinal sub-domain scores, no global score Time frame of assessment: past four weeks	F	X	X
HNQOL⁴¹	27			X	X	X		Items: 20 Scale: 5 pt Likert type, yes/no	Dimensions: eating, communication, pain, and emotion Scoring: Domain scores Time frame of assessment: past 4 weeks	F	X	X
MDASI-HN⁴²	2	X	X	X	X			Items: 9 Scale: 11 pt Likert type	Dimensions: Swallowing/chewing, mucus, taste, voice/speech, mouth/throat sores, teeth/gum issues, choking/cough, constipation, diarrhea, hair loss, skin issues Scoring: To be used in conjunction with the 13 MDASI core and 6 interference items Time frame of assessment: past 24 hours	F	X	X
Parotidectomy QOL Survey⁵⁰	1	X^f			Not reported			Items: 8 Scale: 7 pt ordinal scale, first item with multiple answer choices, 1 freelance item	Dimensions: Assesses frequency, duration, degree of bother, size of affected area, daily activity interference, and frequency of worry/concern caused by abnormal sensations around the ear or neck after parotidectomy Time frame of assessment: since surgery, past month
QLQ - Rathmell⁴⁶	1	Not reported		1	Not reported			Items: 13 Scale: 4- 5 answer categories	Dimensions: Items on pain frequency/severity, eating ability, mouth dryness, taste, appetite, weight loss, speech, energy level, work, social contact, state of mind, physical appearance Time frame of assessment: past week		X
QOL-NPC⁴⁷	1	Not reported			X			Items: 30 Scale: Linear 11 pt scale	Dimensions: Four domains – physical, psychological, social, side effect Scoring: Domain scores	F		X
QOL-Thyroid^51,52	2		X		X			Items: 30 Scale: 11 pt-ordinal scale	Dimensions: Physical, psychological, social, and spiritual subscales evaluating QOL of thyroid cancer patients. A different version of the instrument evaluates the impact of thyroid hormone withdrawal on patients' perceived changes in QOL. Scoring: Mean scores, subscale scores, reverse anchor scoring for some items Time frame of assessment: During illness and treatment		X
SNOT-22¹⁰⁶	2		X		X	X		Items: 22 Scale: 6 pt Likert type	Scoring: Total score range: 0–110, lower scores denote better QOL Time frame of assessment: past two weeks			X
University of Frankfurt QLQ⁴⁸	1	Not reported			Not reported			Items: 31 (17 main) Scale: 6 pt Likert type	Dimensions: assesses patients' beliefs, hopes and expectations, satisfaction with care, physical and psychological symptoms, relationships Time frame of assessment: past 2–3 weeks		X
University of Liverpool QLQ⁴⁹	1		X^†		Not reported			Items: 10 Scale: Mixed format: 5 and 10 pt Likert type, yes/no	Dimensions: communication, diet, social activity, physical functioning, appearance, emotional function, relationships, treatment regret Scoring: Total score range: 0–100 Time frame of assessment: past 4 weeks
UWQOL^38,39	142		X		X			Items: 12 + 3 general questions and a multiple choice item on most important issues Scale: 3, 4, 5, and 6 pt Likert type	Dimensions: Twelve domains: pain, appearance, activity level, recreation, swallowing, chewing, speech, shoulder function, taste, saliva, depression, anxiety Scoring: Composite scores for physical function and social function (score range 0–100) and domain score Time frame of assessment: past 7 days	F	X	X
VHNSS¹⁰⁷	1	X		X	X			Items: 28 Scale: 11 pt Likert type	Dimensions: Five subscales: nutrition, pain, voice, swallow, and mucous/dry mouth Scoring: Global and subscale scores Time frame of assessment: past week	I

Abbreviations: AQLQ, Auckland quality of life questionnaire; EORTC QLQ-H&N35, European organization for Research and treatment of Cancer questionnaire head and neck module; FACT-HN, Functional assessment of cancer therapy – head and neck module; FACT-NP, Functional assessment of cancer therapy – nasopharyngeal module; FSCI, Facial skin cancer index; FSH&N-SR, Functional status in head and neck cancer – self report measure; H&NS, Head & Neck Survey; HNC, head and neck cancer; HNCI, Head and Neck Cancer Inventory; HNQOL, University of Michigan head and neck QOL questionnaire; MDASI-HN, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory – Head and Neck; Pt, point; QOL, quality of life; QLQ, quality of life questionnaire; QOL-NPC, Quality of life for nasopharyngeal carcinoma; SNOT-22, Sinonasal outcome test – 22 item; UWQOL, University of Washington quality of life questionnaire; VHNSS, Vanderbilt head and neck symptom survey

Structure: F, Factor analysis, I, Item analysis. Unless otherwise indicated, higher scores indicate better QOL; Empty spaces indicate absence of property or lack of published information on property; X^f - face validity

Frequency counts for the general and specific EORTC instruments (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35) and FACT instruments (general, head and neck, and nasopharyngeal) were grouped together because they are often utilized together.

^†

Cronbach's alpha for FACT-HN was low at 0.59,

^†

U Liverpool QLQ underwent comparative validation with the FACT-HN)