Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the canine owner-reported quality of life questionnaire (CORQ) for assessing quality of life in dogs with cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Canine OwnerReported Quality of Life (CORQ) questionnaire, developed by Giuffrida et al. (2018), to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in dogs with cancer, following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The QoL is becoming increasingly important in veterinary medicine, especially in the context of companion animals diagnosed with cancer. Many existing studies use non-validated scales, resulting in a lack of reliable instruments in Spanish-speaking populations. Methods: Construct validity and internal consistency were evaluated using factor analyses and Cronbach's α, and convergent validity was examined against established quality-of-life measures. Results: The findings indicate that the Spanish version of the CORQ exhibits robust psychometric properties, characterized by high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.841 for vitality and 0.946 for wellness) and significant correlations with established QoL measures. Conclusions and clinical relevance: This successful adaptation and validation provides Spanish-speaking veterinarians with a reliable tool to assess and manage quality of life in dogs diagnosed with cancer