Validation of the MENQOL for use with women who have been treated for gynecologic or breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: To conduct a psychometric evaluation of the MENQOL, a condition-specific, self-report instrument to assess menopausal symptoms in women with gynecologic and breast cancers.Methods: Identify face and content validity of the MENQOL with experts, and reliability and construct validity with a group of women diagnosed with cancer who are suffering from treatment-induced menopause.Results: Eighty-two women with treatment-induced menopause completed the MENQOL, EORTC-C30, and the SVQ. The MENQOL was shown to have good face and content validity, and acceptable reliability (homogeneity and test-retest) and validity (concurrent and construct). Additionally, 85.5% of the women reported experiencing hot flashes. However, the most bothersome symptoms were weight gain and fatigue (feeling worn out).Implications: The MENQOL can be used to assess treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in women diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer.