Psychometric evaluation of the Serbian version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Serbian-language version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31).


METHODS
After undergoing a translation and cultural adaptation of its items in order to create a Serbian-language version of QOLIE-31, we assessed its psychometric properties-reliability, construct validity and criterion validity. The sample consisted of 203 adults with epilepsy. Reliability was tested both by assessing the internal consistency and by the test-retest method. Construct validity was assessed by factor analysis, multitrait-scaling analysis and method of known-groups validation. This was achieved by assessing the relationship between scales and external measures (socio-demographic characteristics, seizure severity and etiology of epilepsy). Criterion validity was assessed by correlation analysis between QOLIE-31 and Short form 36 health survey (SF-36) and Neurotoxicity scale-II.


RESULTS
The domains showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.94). Test-retest reliability for Overall test score was 0.83 (Pearson's coefficient) indicating temporal stability. Seizure severity and etiology of epilepsy significantly influenced all QOLIE-31 domains except the Medication effect domain, with lowest scores in high seizure severity and symptomatic etiology groups. Employment status significantly influenced Overall quality of life, Emotional well-being, Social function and Overall score. Educational level was related to the Emotional well-being domain, with highest scores for students. The QOLIE-31 was highly positively correlated with SF-36 (rho=0.898) and strongly negatively correlated with Neurotoxicity scale-II (rho=-0.783).


CONCLUSIONS
Serbian adaptation of the QOLIE-31 questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessing the quality of life in patients with epilepsy.
Martinović
Zarko
Z
Belgrade University Medical School, Belgrade, Serbia. martinovic@sezampro.rsˇ
Milovanović
Maja
M
Tosković
Oliver
O
Jovanović
Mirjana
M
Buder
Nevenka
N
Simonović
Perisa
P
Dokić
Rada
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003469:Culture; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055771:Serbia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult