Translation and validation of the Korean version of the QUAlity of Life Assessment in Spina bifida for Teenagers (QUALAS-T-K)

Abstract

Purpose

The Quality of Life Assessment in Spina bifida for Teenagers (QUALAS-T) is a tool used to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents with spina bifida (SB). The purpose of this study was to translate the QUALAS-T into Korean and validate its Korean version (QUALAS-T-K).

Methods

Translation and validation processes were carried out in accordance with a specified protocol, including forward and back translation, a content validity study, and a main study. The tool’s reliability was evaluated based on its internal consistency and stability. Factor analysis was conducted, and convergent validity was confirmed using the KIDSCREEN-27.

Results

Of the 59 participants, 35 had lipomyelomeningoceles. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that QUALAS-T-K had the same structure as QUALAS-T. The QUALAS-T-K showed excellent internal consistency (α: 0.872–0.893, ω: 0.875–0.885), test–retest reliability (ICC:0.84–0.92), and weak to strong correlations with the KIDSCREEN-27.

Conclusions

The QUALAS-T-K, developed by reflecting on the characteristics of SB and considering the applicability of Korean cultural characteristics and clinical practice, is a convenient and reliable tool with excellent internal consistency and stability. This could be a useful tool in clinical and research settings for HRQOL evaluation of adolescents with SB.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Optimizing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is one of the goals of individuals with spina bifida (SB), and HRQOL measures that reflect the condition specificity of SB should be performed.

• The QUAlity of Life Assessment in Spina bifida for Teenagers (QUALAS-T), developed in the USA, is a self-reported HRQOL questionnaire used in research and clinical practice for adolescents with SB.

• This study revealed that the QUALAS-T, translated into Korean, is a valid, convenient, and reliable tool.

• The Korean version of the QUALAS-T is a useful tool that can be used in clinical and research settings to optimize HRQOL in adolescents with SB.

Keywords:

• Quality of life
• questionnaires
• spinal dysraphism
• adolescent
• reliability
• validity

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Sang Won Han of Severance Children’s Spina Bifida Clinic for help in recruiting participants and Hye Young Lee for the translation of version 1c. This research was supported by 2020 Faculty Research Fund of the College of Nursing and the Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute at Yonsei University (6-2020-0006), and the Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, Yonsei University College of Nursing.

Copyright of the QUALAS-T-K Copyright 2015: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. Contact information and permission to use: Konrad M. Szymanski, MPH, Indianapolis, IN, USA. E-mail: [email protected].

Disclosure statement

None.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the 2020 Faculty Research Fund of the College of Nursing and the Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute at Yonsei University (6-2020-0006), and the Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, Yonsei University College of Nursing.