Development and validation of the mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire.
BACKGROUND
The 28-item Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) has strong measurement properties but for large clinical trials, surveys and practice monitoring, where high efficiency is important, a shorter questionnaire is needed.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate an abbreviated version of the RQLQ.


METHODS
Using five RQLQ databases, items with high item-item correlations were combined and then the highest scoring items were selected for the MiniRQLQ (14 questions). There are five domains: activity limitations (standardized), practical problems and nose symptoms, eye symptoms and other symptoms. The MiniRQLQ, which is self-administered, was tested in a 5-week observational study in 100 adults with symptomatic rhinoconjunctivitis. Patients completed the MiniRQLQ, the RQLQ, and other measures of health status at baseline, 1 and 5 weeks.


RESULTS
In patients whose rhinoconjunctivitis was stable between clinic visits, reliability (reproducibility and ability to discriminate between patients of different impairment) was very acceptable for the MiniRQLQ (ICC = 0.93) but not quite as good as for the RQLQ (ICC = 0.97). Responsiveness to change in clinical status was better with the MiniRQLQ than the RQLQ (P = 0. 044). Construct validity (correlation with other indices of health status) was strong for both the MiniRQLQ and the RQLQ. Concordance between the two instruments was high (ICC = 0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
The MiniRQLQ has strong measurement properties and measures the same construct as the original RQLQ. The choice of questionnaire should depend on the task at hand.
Juniper
E F
EF
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Thompson
A K
AK
Ferrie
P J
PJ
Roberts
J N
JN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires