Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean version of the EQ-5D in patients with rheumatic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean version of the EQ-5D in rheumatic conditions.


METHODS
Translation, back-translation and cognitive debriefing were performed according to the EuroQol group's guidelines. For validity, 508 patients were recruited and administered the EQ-5D, Short-Form 36 and condition-specific measures. Construct validity and sensitivity were evaluated by testing a-priori hypotheses. For reliability, another 57 patients repeated the EQ-5D at 1-week interval, and intra-class correlations (ICC) and kappa statistics were estimated. For responsiveness, another 60 patients repeated it at 12-week interval within the context of clinical trial, and standardized response mean(SRM) were calculated.


RESULTS
The cross-cultural adaptation produced no major modifications in the scale. The associations of the EQ-5D with the generic- and condition-specific measures were observed as expected in hypotheses: the higher EQ-5Dindex and EQ-5D(VAS) scores, the better health status by generic- or condition-specific measures, and the better functional class. The ICCs were 0.751 and 0.767, respectively, and kappa ranged from 0.455 to 0.772. The SRM were 0.649 and 0.410, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The Korean EQ-5D exhibits good validity and sensitivity in various rheumatic conditions. Although its reliability and responsiveness were not excellent, it seems acceptable if condition-specific measures are applied together.
Kim
Myoung-Hee
MH
Department of Preventive Medicine, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Cho
Young-Shin
YS
Uhm
Wan-Sik
WS
Kim
Sehyun
S
Bae
Sang-Cheol
SC
D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000295:instrumentation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating