title: Quality of life in coeliac patients: Italian validation of a coeliac questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic condition requiring a gluten-free diet, which is a very demanding diet to maintain on a life-long basis. For this reason it is a condition that can have serious repercussions on the quality of life (QOL). Therefore the need to elaborate a questionnaire on QOL specifically for patients with CD (CDQ): its original language is German, and the translation/validation process represents a considerable challenge involving not only a translation into Italian but also an adaptation to the country's specific cultural differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire has been translated according to a "German → Italian → Italian → German" algorithm with reconciliation of the differences. Scores for CDQ are computed overall and over four areas of four items each: emotion, gastrointestinal symptoms, gastrointestinal worries, social problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CDQ was administered to 171 coeliacs (F 132, mean age 38 yrs ± 14). Completeness was optimal. Item internal consistency was satisfied for 100% and 97% of patients for the specific and generic part, respectively. Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.7 for all scales. The general CDQ was higher in patients reporting subjective well-being (discriminant validity).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Italian translation of CDQ sounds natural, is easy to understand and reduces possible cultural biases to a minimum. A field test gave results comparable to the original validation, supporting the use of CDQ in cross-national surveys.
authors.affiliation: Coeliac Centre/First Dept of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klersy
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balduzzi
authors.forename: Paola I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vattiato
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zilli
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rademacher
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrealli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Astegiano
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michelini
authors.forename: Wienfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Häuser
authors.forename: Gino R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Corazza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations