The reliability and concurrent validity of the scoliosis research society-22 patient questionnaire for idiopathic scoliosis.
METHODS
Outcome study to determine response distribution, internal consistency, reproducibility, and concurrent validity of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) questionnaire.


OBJECTIVE
Further refinement of an HRQL questionnaire specific for idiopathic scoliosis.


BACKGROUND
Previous experience with the original and modified SRS HRQL questionnaires suggested a need for further refinement and more complete validation.


METHODS
The SRS-22 and Short Form 36 (SF-36) HRQL questionnaires were mailed to 83 previously surveyed postoperative idiopathic scoliosis patients.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight (70%) patients returned the first set of questionnaires. Their average age at surgery was 14.6 years, and their average follow-up interval since surgery was 10.8 years. Fifty-one (88%) of the 58 returned the second set of questionnaires an average of 28 days later. The psychometric attributes of the instruments were comparable: score distribution, SRS-22 56.9% ceiling and 1.7% floor, SF-36 79.3% ceiling and 1.7% floor; internal consistency (Cronbach alpha), SRS-22 0.92 to 0.75, SF-36 0.91 to 0.36; and reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient), SRS-22 0.96 to 0.85, SF-36 0.92 to 0.61. Concurrent validity, determined by Pearson Correlation Coefficients between SRS-22 and SF-36 domains, was 0.70 or greater ( < 0.0001) for 17 relevant comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
The SRS-22 HRQL questionnaire is reliable with internal consistency and reproducibility comparable to SF-36. In addition, it demonstrated concurrent validity when compared to SF-36. It is shorter and more focused on the health issues related to idiopathic scoliosis than SF-36.
Asher
Marc
M
School of Medicine, Section of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. masher@kumc.edu
Min Lai
Sue
S
Burton
Doug
D
Manna
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States