Psychometric validation of the EORTC QLQ-PR25 and clinical correlates of quality of life among Albanian men with prostate cancer

Our aim was to assess the psychometric properties of the “EORTC QLQ-PR25” in Albania and to determine the links between disease characteristics and treatment in men with prostate cancer. A study conducted in Tirana during April 2024–December 2025 included 74 consecutive men diagnosed with prostate cancer who completed the EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaire (response: ≈94%). The EORTC QLQ-PR25 demonstrated excellent internal consistency across all subscales (Cronbach’s alpha range: 0.85-0.91), with very high reliability for the overall scale (α=0.94). Higher symptom burden and poorer overall quality-of-life were significantly associated with radical prostatectomy, metastatic disease, high Gleason score (9-10), and extracapsular tumour spread (all P<0.05). Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy reported the worst outcomes across all symptom domains, as well as the lowest general quality-of-life and health status scores. Seemingly, the EORTC QLQ-PR25 is a reliable and clinically valid instrument for assessing prostate cancer-specific quality-of-life among Albanian men. Also, symptom burden and quality-of-life impairment were strongly associated with disease severity and invasive treatment. Our findings support the integration of patient-reported outcomes into routine prostate cancer care in Albanian-speaking countries.

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