Methods
Research data resource
A total of 115 patients newly diagnosed with nasopharyngeal
carcinoma were recruited to answer the first 28
questions on the Taiwanese version of the EORTC QLQC30
questionnaire, which requires answers on a scale of 1
to 4 (1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = Quite a bit, and 4 =
Very much). The two composite questions requiring
answers on a 1-7 scale were excluded from the study
("How would you rate your overall health during the past
week?" and "How would you rate your overall quality of
life during the past week?"). All examinees were treated in
one of three Taiwanese medical centers and had a followup
evaluation a minimum of three months later without
complete remission. Accordingly, the 115-person × 28-
item observed-response matrix was created. This study
was approved by the institutional review boards of the
hospitals.