Transcultural adaptation and psychometric validation of a French-language version of the QoL-AD.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties and the transcultural adaptation into French of the quality-of-life in Alzheimer's disease (QoL-AD).


METHODS
A total of 120 patient-proxy pairs were recruited in six French hospitals and one French-speaking Swiss hospital to take part in the study. The patients presented mild to moderate AD (MMSE > or = 10). The QoL-AD was administered by an interviewer for patients and was self-administered for caregiver proxies. Thus, the psychometric validation enabled the study of feasibility, acceptability, reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of the instrument.


RESULTS
The French version of the QoL-AD showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > or = 0.70) and good reliability (Intra-class correlation > 0.80) at a 2-week interval, for patient and caregiver questionnaires. Convergent validity, as indicated by correlation between the QoL-AD (disease-specific instrument) and the dimensions of the Duke Health Profile (generic instrument), was also good for eight dimensions in the Duke profile (p < 0.05). Discriminant validity showed a significant difference for depression (p = 0.0025) and did not show significant difference for two groups of dementia (p = 0.11).


CONCLUSIONS
There is now a validated French version of the QoL-AD available, following transcultural adaptation according to international recommendations, which possesses good psychometric qualities.
Wolak
Aurore
A
University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims F-51095, France.
Novella
Jean-Luc
JL
Drame
Moustapha
M
Guillemin
Francis
F
Di Pollina
Laura
L
Ankri
Joël
J
Aquino
Jean-Pierre
JP
Morrone
Isabella
I
Blanchard
François
F
Jolly
Damien
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires