Validation of the Russian version of Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire

Abstract

Introduction. Surgical intervention is the only or main component of combination treatment of the majority of malignant tumors of the spine. Pronounced pain syndrome and neurological deficit caused by spinal tumors significantly worsen disease progression, decrease patients’ quality of life.Aim. To develop a Russian-language version of a specialized questionnaire to study the quality of life of patients suffering from tumor lesions of the spine Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSG-OQ).Materials and methods. In 82 patients with tumors of various parts of the spine who are treated at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, psychometric evaluation of the SOSG-OQ questionnaire was performed confirming its convergent validity and reliability–consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.899).Results. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed adequacy of the questionnaire’s structure and its conformity to the basic factor model. Instruments of the validated Russian version of the SOSG-OQ questionnaire (text and data analysis instructions) for its use in clinical practice are presented. Results obtained using the new SOSG-OQ questionnaire show a significant decrease in quality of life of patients with spinal tumors. Additionally, after surgery patients described their health-related quality of life significantly higher than prior to treatment.Conclusion. Validated Russian version of the SOSG-OQ questionnaire can be recommended for application in oncological clinic for more precise and differentiated evaluation of performance status, emotional condition, experience of patients, evaluation of life circumstances associated with the disease to promote more targeted and personalized psychological care.