Repurposing EORTC QLQ-H&N43 and NCCN Distress Thermometer and Problem List: Adaptation and Validation in Kannada

To translate, validate and test the reliability of Kannada version of “EORTC QLQ-H&N43” and “NCCN Distress Thermometer and Problem list” version 2.2022. The English version of “EORTC QLQ H&N43” and “NCCN Distress thermometer and Problem List” version 2.2022 tools were translated into Kannada language according to standard guideline. The translated version was validated by EORTC and by using content validity index (CVI). Further, the reliability of validated tools was established via test–retest and internal consistency method whereas construct was determined via spearman rank correlation. The Cronbach alpha value > 0.7 and correlation coefficients (ρ) < 0.05 was considered as significant. The Kannada version of “EORTC QLQ-H&N43” was validated by EORTC as well as by experts whereas  NCCN distress tool was validated only by experts with average CVI score of 1 and 0.97 respectively. Out of total 80 patients, 50% were head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and 50% belonged to other cancer types. Kannada version of EORTC QLQ-H&N43 and NCCN distress tool was found to be reliable among HNC and general cancer patients respectively with the Cronbach alpha value between 0.819–1 and 0.71–1 for all the domains. Further, only 7.72% of EORTC QLQ-H&N43 and 13.33% of NCCN distress tool construct were significantly correlated with construct of EORTC QLQ-C30 (p < 0.05). The Kannada version of QoL and distress instrument was found to be valid and reliable to use among HNC and/ general cancer patients respectively. Thus, this method of translation, validation and reliability testing can be used as a novel practice in healthcare.