Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire-7 for Individuals with Gynecologic Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire-7 (GCLQ-7) for the differentiation of patients with and without lymphedema in the lower extremities (LELE) in individuals with gynecological cancer. Material and Methods: The questionnaire was administered to a lymphedema group of 70 patients with unilateral LELE, mean age of 58.84±11.05 years, who were undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery, and a Latent group of 27 patients with a mean age of 93±10.05 years, who were undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery without LELE. Results: In the reliability analysis of the GCLQ-7, the Cronbach alpha values of GCLQ-7 were found to be 0.778, 0.769, 0.841, 0.785, 0.769, 0.848 and 0.871, respectively. Criterion validity was used in the validity analysis of the scale, and the results showed differences between the circumference measurements and the total score of the scale, in the LE group, in respect of the lower extremity measured at 5 cm (r=0.277), 10 cm (r=0.293), 15 cm (r=0.291), and 20 cm above the medial malleolus. Discussion: The GCLQ-7 was found to be a safe and valid scale for the differentiation of patients with and without LELE in a Turkish population.