Validation of the Swedish translation of LPR-HRQL.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to adapt the Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Health- Related Quality of Life questionnaire (LPR-HRQL) to Swedish and evaluate its psychometric properties in patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

MATERIAL/METHODS: The psychometric validation included 228 patients with suspected LPR who had previously undergone a 2-level 24-hour pH examination and who answered a mail-distributed set of questionnaires. The patients were divided into 2 comparable groups according to the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) cut-off score: 126 patients with RSI score between 0-13 (defined as normal) and 102 patients with RSI score >13 (defined as abnormal, i.e. having LPR disease).

RESULTS

LPR-HRQL was adapted to Swedish using a formal forward-backward translation method with input from expert groups (patients and physicians). Psychometric properties of the Swedish version of LPR-HRQL were evaluated by using factor analysis to explore the factor structure. Convergent and discriminant validity was determined by using the questionnaires RSI and Short Form-36 (SF-36). The psychometric tests performed fulfilled the criteria for structural integrity, validity and reliability, mostly confirming the results obtained in the original LPR-HRQL version.

CONCLUSIONS

The Swedish translated version of LPR-HRQL proved to be a statistically valid instrument with which to assess HRQL in patients with LPR disease, and will be further tested in prospective studies.