Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Korean Version of the EQ-5D in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

• Published in: Quality of life research 2005-06, Vol.14 (5), p.1401-1406
• Main Authors: Kim, Myoung-Hee, Cho, Young-Shin, Uhm, Wan-Sik, Kim, Sehyun, Bae, Sang-Cheol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Ankylosing spondylitis; Arthritis; Brief Communications; Culture; Female; Fibromyalgia; Humans; Hypotheses; Korea; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis; Psychometrics - instrumentation; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatic Diseases - ethnology; Rheumatic Diseases - physiopathology; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology; Rheumatology - instrumentation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sickness Impact Profile; Surveys and Questionnaires; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Translating; Validity
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-004-5681-z

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean version of the EQ-5D in rheumatic conditions. Methods: Translation, back-translation and cognitive debriefing were performed according to the EuroQol group's guidelines. For validity, 508 patients were recruited and administered the EQ-5D, Short-Form 36 and condition-specific measures. Construct validity and sensitivity were evaluated by testing a-priori hypotheses. For reliability, another 57 patients repeated the EQ-5D at 1-week interval, and intra-class correlations (ICC) and kappa statistics were estimated. For responsiveness, another 60 patients repeated it at 12-week interval within the context of clinical trial, and standardized response mean(SRM) were calculated. Results: The cross-cultural adaptation produced no major modifications in the scale. The associations of the EQ-5D with the generic- and condition-specific measures were observed as expected in hypotheses: the higher${\rm EQ}\text{-}5{\rm D}_{\text{index}}$and${\rm EQ}\text{-}5{\rm D}_{{\rm VAS}}$scores, the better health status by generic- or condition-specific measures, and the better functional class. The ICCs were 0.751 and 0.767, respectively, and kappa ranged from 0.455 to 0.772. The SRM were 0.649 and 0.410, respectively. Conclusion: The Korean EQ-5D exhibits good validity and sensitivity in various rheumatic conditions. Although its reliability and responsiveness were not excellent, it seems acceptable if condition-specific measures are applied together.