Surreal illustration representing the journey of improving quality of life for cancer patients.

Quality of Life Matters: How to Cope with Esophageal and Gastric Cancer

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness July 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how translated questionnaires improve quality of life assessments for esophageal and gastric cancer patients."

When dealing with oncological conditions, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a crucial factor that can significantly influence patient care and clinical research. For individuals facing esophageal and esophagogastric cancers, the impact on daily life can be particularly challenging. That's where specialized tools like the Quality of Life Questionnaire - OES18 (for esophageal cancer) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire - OG25 (for esophagogastric cancer) come into play. These questionnaires, developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), are designed to evaluate the quality of life in patients, ensuring that their voices are heard and their specific needs are addressed.

The process of translating and culturally adapting these questionnaires is vital. It ensures that they accurately capture the experiences of patients from diverse backgrounds. A recent study focused on creating a Portuguese version of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25, highlighting the importance of making these tools accessible to Portuguese-speaking patients. This initiative aimed to provide a reliable and valid way to measure health-related quality of life, ultimately improving clinical practice and scientific research.

Whether you're a patient, a caregiver, or a healthcare professional, understanding the role and impact of these translated questionnaires can empower you to make informed decisions and advocate for comprehensive care. This article delves into the details of the study, explaining the methods used, the results achieved, and the potential benefits for patients dealing with esophageal and gastric cancers.

Why is Assessing Quality of Life Important for Cancer Patients?

Surreal illustration representing the journey of improving quality of life for cancer patients.

Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly important because it enhances clinical research and patient care, particularly for those with oncological conditions. The EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 modules, designed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, specifically evaluate the quality of life in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancers.

The key goal was to translate, culturally adapt, and pilot test these questionnaires to create a Portuguese version, ensuring accurate and relevant assessments for Portuguese-speaking patients. This process underscores the significance of culturally sensitive tools in healthcare.

Improved Clinical Research: Accurate HRQoL assessments provide valuable data for clinical trials and studies, leading to better treatment strategies.
Enhanced Patient Care: Understanding a patient's quality of life helps healthcare providers tailor treatments to meet their specific needs, improving overall well-being.
Cultural Relevance: Adapting questionnaires for different cultures ensures that the tools accurately capture the unique experiences and challenges of diverse patient populations.

The study followed EORTC guidelines for translation, cultural adaptation, and pilot testing. The OG25 module underwent forward (English to Portuguese) and backward (Portuguese to English) translations by independent native speakers. The OES18 module, already available in a Brazilian version, was culturally adapted and pilot tested. Both cancer and non-cancer patients were included in the study.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Quality of Life Assessments

The Portuguese versions of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires offer valuable tools for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancers. By using these tools, healthcare providers and researchers can gain deeper insights into the patient experience, leading to more effective and patient-centered care. The ongoing efforts to translate and adapt these questionnaires for different languages and cultures reflect a commitment to improving the well-being of cancer patients worldwide.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.20344/amp.7499, Alternate LINK

Title: Portuguese Version Of The Eortc Qlq-Oes18 And Qlq-Og25 For Health-Related Quality Of Life Assessment

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Acta Médica Portuguesa

Publisher: Ordem dos Medicos

Authors: Miguel Relvas-Silva, Rui Almeida Silva, Mário Dinis-Ribeiro

Published: 2017-01-31

Everything You Need To Know

What are the key benefits of using translated questionnaires like the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 for patients with esophageal and gastric cancer?

Using translated questionnaires like the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 offers several key benefits. Firstly, they enhance clinical research by providing accurate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data, leading to better treatment strategies. Secondly, they improve patient care by helping healthcare providers tailor treatments to meet specific needs, improving overall well-being. Lastly, cultural relevance is ensured through adapting questionnaires for different cultures, accurately capturing the unique experiences and challenges of diverse patient populations. This ensures patients from various backgrounds can have their voices heard and specific needs addressed more effectively.

How do the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires specifically help in assessing the quality of life for patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancers?

The EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires are designed to evaluate the quality of life in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancers. These tools were developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). The QLQ-OES18 specifically focuses on esophageal cancer patients, while the QLQ-OG25 is tailored for those with esophagogastric cancer. They are crucial for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL), providing valuable data for clinical trials and helping healthcare providers tailor treatments, thereby improving patient care and overall well-being. The questionnaires are designed to be culturally sensitive, ensuring that patients' experiences are accurately captured regardless of their background.

What steps were involved in creating the Portuguese versions of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires?

The process of creating the Portuguese versions of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires involved several important steps. First, the study adhered to the guidelines established by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) for translation, cultural adaptation, and pilot testing. The QLQ-OG25 module underwent both forward (English to Portuguese) and backward (Portuguese to English) translations by independent native speakers. For the QLQ-OES18 module, which already had a Brazilian version, the focus was on cultural adaptation and pilot testing. Both cancer and non-cancer patients were included in the study to ensure the questionnaires' relevance and accuracy for the target population. The aim was to create reliable and valid tools for measuring health-related quality of life in Portuguese-speaking patients.

Why is cultural adaptation so important when translating quality of life questionnaires for different patient populations?

Cultural adaptation is crucial when translating quality of life questionnaires because it ensures the tools accurately reflect the experiences and challenges of diverse patient populations. The EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires, for example, are designed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancers. Without cultural adaptation, the questionnaires may not capture the unique perspectives and needs of patients from different cultural backgrounds. This can lead to inaccurate assessments, hindering effective clinical research and patient care. By adapting these questionnaires, healthcare providers can gain a deeper understanding of how the disease impacts patients' lives, leading to more personalized and effective treatment strategies.

How can healthcare professionals and researchers utilize the Portuguese versions of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires to improve patient care and research outcomes?

Healthcare professionals and researchers can leverage the Portuguese versions of the EORTC QLQ-OES18 and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires to significantly improve patient care and research outcomes. These questionnaires allow for a comprehensive assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancers. For patient care, the questionnaires can help tailor treatments to meet specific needs, leading to improved overall well-being. Researchers can use the data to gain deeper insights into the patient experience, identify areas for improvement in treatment strategies, and conduct more culturally relevant clinical trials. By utilizing these tools, healthcare providers and researchers can enhance the effectiveness of their interventions, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients dealing with these challenging oncological conditions.