title: Is QUALIOST appropriate for the patients with orthotopic liver transplantation in measuring quality of life?
abstract: The quality of life questionnaire in osteoporosis (QUALIOST) measures the impact of this condition. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of QUALIOST among 38 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia versus 42 control subjects with osteoporosis or osteopenia associated with other conditions. Bone mineral density (gr/cm(2)) measurements were performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry as well as thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs to assess fractures. Reliability studies evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and internal consistency (Cronbach α). For the validity studies, correlation analysis was performed between this scale and Short Form-36 (SF-36) results. The questionnaire was filled out completely by all the patients with 0.9% and 1.3% of omitted answer rates for OLT and control patients. ICC and Cronbach's α values were good for all domains with values above .90. In both groups we observed significant negative high correlations between the domains of the questionnaire and all SF-36 dimensions (P < .001). At least one vertebral fracture was diagnosed in 17 (44.7%) and 20 (47.6%) patients with OLT and control respectively. The comparison analysis revealed that the scores of QUALIOST of patients with vertebral fracture were significantly higher than those without a fracture in both groups (P < .05). In conclusion, we evaluated the validity and reliability of a scale measuring quality of life in patients who had osteoporosis secondary to OLT. The results showed that the Turkish QUALIOST showed acceptable validity and reliability in these patients.
authors: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation, Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey. atamaz_02@yahoo.com
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Atamaz
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hepguler
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ozturk
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Pinar
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires