Reliability and validity of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients (QLQ-Asthma) in a sample of adult asthmatic patients in Turkey

• Published in: Journal of clinical nursing 2011-01, Vol.20 (1-2), p.127-135
• Main Authors: Bektas, Hicran Aydin, Keser, İlkay Kayacan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients; Asthma; Asthma - physiopathology; Asthma - psychology; Discriminant analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Nursing; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reliability; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey; Validity
• ISSN: 0962-1067; 1365-2702
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03465.x

Aims and objectives.  The aims of this study were to translate the 20‐item Questionnaire for the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients (QLQ‐Asthma) into Turkish and to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients among Turkish adult asthmatic patients in Turkey. Background.  Asthma can adversely affect the physical, psychological and social domains of health‐related quality of life. The Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients is a widely used instrument to measure quality of life in asthma patients. The Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients has not been validated in Turkey. Design.  Methodological research design. Methods.  This study describes the translation process of Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients into Turkish and tests its reliability and validity on quality of life in asthma patients. The study group was composed of 105 stable adult asthmatic patients. The questionnaire was translated using a back‐translation technique. The statistical analysis was carried out using Cronbach’s alpha to test the internal consistency of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients scale while exploratory factor analysis was carried out using principal component analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser Normalisation to test its construct validity. Results.  The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reliability for the total scale was 0·84, and internal consistency reliability was in the acceptable range for this instrument. Results indicated that respondents did not have difficulty answering the questions in the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients. Factor analysis resulted in five‐factor structure: physical activities, role activities, emotions, social activities and health perceptions. Conclusions.  The Turkish version of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients is a reliable and valid supplementary measure of the quality of life in asthma patients, and it is a useful outcome measurement tool for clinical trials conducted in Turkey. Relevance of clinical practice.  The Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients scale is simple to administer, and Turkish researchers and health care providers can use the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients to assess the asthma patients quality of life.