The study will be conducted in four stages:
Stage I - Item generation Approximately 20 interviews will be conducted with ovarian patients receiving combined surgery and chemotherapy to capture their experiences including quality of life, symptom experience, and other relevant themes that may emerge. The interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The qualitative data will be analysed thematically and key quotes extracted which will be used to create a draft item list. Interviews will be conducted either in person or virtually depending on national social distancing guidance at the time. Interviews will be audio recorded using a Dictaphone which encrypts files in real time.
Stage II - Cognitive interviewing Following the initial interviews, approximately 7 participants will undergo cognitive interviews to ensure that all items are clear and easily understood. Interviews will be audio recorded using a Dictaphone which encrypts files in real time.
Stage III - Item reduction and refinement of the draft PROM A draft PROM and the EORTC QLQ-C30 (a validated measure of health related quality of life for cancer patients in clinical trials) will be administered to approximately 100 ovarian cancer participants receiving combined surgery and chemotherapy. Approximately 50 patients will be asked to repeat the draft PROM approximately one week later to assess test-retest reliability. Hierarchical item reduction and Rasch analysis will be used to determine which items should be included in the final PROM.
Stage IV- Pilot testing The final PROM will be pilot tested with approximately 10 patients at The Christie site to assess its acceptability
