[Correlation between the SF-8 health status questionnaire and JRQLQ in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis].
BACKGROUND
It is reported that the health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important outcome in the Japanese Cedar Pollinosis (JCP) treatment. In Japan, the disease-specific Japan Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ) and the generic SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) has been used. The aim of this study is to investigate more profitable QOL by using both the disease-specific questionnaire and the non-disease-specific questionnaire together.


METHODS
411 patients with JCP who visited 10 ENT clinics in Osaka from March 14 to March 26 (peak pollen season) in 2005 were questioned, and 240 patients were engaged in this study as subjects. In this study, the QOL scores were evaluated using the JRQLQ and SF-8 Health Survey (Japanese Version), a new, even shorter generic health survey.


RESULTS
Using factor analysis and the correlation matrix, we showed that the disease-specific and the general health instrument covered a different half the total measurable HRQL. There was some correlation between the SF-8 items with the JRQLQ domains. There was little correlation between the SF-8 items and symptom scores, while, there was high correlation between the JRQLQ and symptom scores. The "Usual daily activities" domain in the JRQLQ correlated with any rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Both JRQLQ and SF-8 can be used to assess the quality of life of patients with JCP. Each instrument measures the aspects of the HRQL that hardly overlaps. For an assessment of the HRQL in JCP that is complete and responsive both instruments should be employed together.
Fujii
Tsukasa
T
Graduate School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University.
Ogino
Satoshi
S
Arimoto
Hiroe
H
Irifune
Morihiro
M
Iwata
Nobuko
N
Ookawachi
Ichiro
I
Kikumori
Hiroshi
H
Seo
Ritsu
R
Takeda
Mariko
M
Tamaki
Akiko
A
Baba
Kenji
K
Nose
Michihiro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032485:Cryptomeria; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires