Table 1.

HRQoL instruments used in the study.

EORTC QLQ-C30	EORTC QLQ-C30 is a general cancer instrument containing multiple items, measured in multiple-point Likert scales, that reflects the multidimensionality of the HRQoL construct. It includes five functional domains (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, and social), three symptom domains (fatigue, pain, and nausea and vomiting), and a global health and HRQoL domain. Six single items assess common symptoms in cancer patients (dyspnea, appetite loss, sleep disturbance, constipation, diarrhea), and financial problems. All scales and domains are transformed to scores ranging from 0–100. A lower score for a functional or global HRQoL scale reflects a poorer functioning level or global QoL, while a lower score for a symptom/ problem scale reflects less symptoms/problem (better HRQoL).
EORTC QLQ- HCC18	EORTC QLQ-HCC18 includes 18 multiple item scales organized into six domains (fatigue, body image, jaundice, nutrition, pain, and fever) and two items (abdominal swelling and sex life). All scales are grouped and transformed to score ranging from 0–100. A lower score represents a less severe symptom/problem (better HRQoL). EORTC QLQ-HCC18 is used together with EORTC QLQ-C30.
C30 index score	∑[(100-physical functioning), (100-role functioning), (100-emotional functioning), (100-cognitive functioning), (100-social functioning), (100-global QoL), scores of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnoea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, financial difficulty] ÷ 15 Range of C30 index score: 0–100; a lower score represents a less severe symptom/problem.
HCC18 index score	∑(scores of fatigue, body image, jaundice, nutrition, pain, fever, sex life, abdominal distension) ÷ 8 Range of HCC18 index score: 0–100; a lower score represents a less severe symptom/problem.

Abbreviations: EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; HCC, Hepatocellular carcinoma; HRQoL, health-related quality of life.