Construct validity and responsiveness of the EQ-HWB-9 in patients with gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer

This study evaluated psychometric properties of the experimental 9-item EQ Health and Wellbeing (EQ-HWB-9 2022 version) separately among patients with gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. Patients recruited from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China completed the experimental EQ-HWB-9 (2022 version), EQ-5D-5L, SF-6Dv2, FACT-G (from which FACT-8D was extracted), and EORTC QLQ-C30 (from which QLU-C10D was extracted) at two routine visits. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Convergent validity, known-groups validity, and responsiveness were assessed. Analysis included 164 gastric, 135 pancreatic, and 203 colorectal cancer patients. The experimental EQ-HWB-9 (2022 version) index score showed moderate to strong correlations with those of EQ-5D-5L, SF-6Dv2, FACT-8D, QLU-C10D and single-item global health and quality-of-life scales (rs: 0.46–0.80). It demonstrated known-groups validity for ECOG status (Cohen’s d: 0.94–1.49), cancer stage (0.29–0.49), and financial burden (0.38–0.49) across three cancer types, although it failed to discriminate cancer stage in colorectal cancer. Among anchor-defined improved patients, SRM values showed higher responsiveness for pancreatic cancer than for gastric and colorectal cancer. Among anchor-defined deteriorated patients, SRM values were similar across three cancers. This is the first study to evaluate the psychometric properties of experimental EQ-HWB-9 (2022 version) by individual cancer type. The instrument demonstrated generally satisfactory construct validity and preliminary evidence of responsiveness in three gastrointestinal cancers, although differences in psychometric performance across cancer types warrant further investigation. Not applicable. This study evaluated construct validity and responsiveness of the experimental EQ-HWB-9 (2022 version) separately among patients with gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. The experimental EQ-HWB-9 (2022 version) demonstrated generally satisfactory construct validity and preliminary evidence of responsiveness, with psychometric performance varying by cancer type. This study suggests possible heterogeneity in the psychometric performance of the experimental EQ-HWB-9 (2022 version) across gastrointestinal cancer types.