Validity of the Dutch version of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire, ALSAQ‐40, ALSAQ‐5

Abstract

The objective was to validate the Dutch translation of the 40‐item and 5‐item Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ‐40, ALSAQ‐5). Eighty‐one ALS patients participated in this cross‐sectional study. The measures used were the ALSAQ‐40, the ALSAQ‐5, MOS Short‐Form‐36 (SF‐36) and Revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS‐R). The Dutch ALSAQ‐40 was sensitive to differences in disease severity (all scales Kruskal‐Wallis, p<0.05), had no floor and few ceiling effects (Communication, Eating and Drinking scales), had excellent internal consistency reliability (all scales Cronbach's alpha >0.90, all item to subscale correlations above 0.40) and showed good construct validity as it correlated as expected with SF‐36 and ALSFRS‐R scores. The total and item scores of the ALSAQ‐5 were strongly correlated with the corresponding total and subscale scores of the ALSAQ‐40 (Spearman's rho >0.80). The ALSAQ‐5 and ALSAQ‐40 showed comparable correlations with the subscales of the SF‐36 and the ALSFRS‐R, except for Activities Daily Living and Independence (ADL). All other results of the Dutch ALSAQ‐40 and ALSAQ‐5 were comparable to those of the original UK questionnaires. It is concluded that the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the ALSAQ‐40 and the ALSAQ‐5 are good and similar to those of the original English version.

• quality of life
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• ALSAQ‐40
• ALSAQ‐5
• health status