title: Validation of a Quality of Life Questionnaire for Bronchiectasis: psychometric analyses of the Spanish QOL-B-V3.0.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease, leading to worsening of health-related quality of life. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a new patient-reported outcome for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, the Quality of Life Questionnaire Bronchiectasis, translated into Spanish (QOL-B-Sp-V3.0).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study recruited clinically stable patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis at 4 Spanish centers. Health status was assessed with multiple indicators (dyspnea, exacerbations, bronchorrhea, etc.), microbiological, radiological, spirometric, and anthropometric parameters plus St-George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Psychometric analyses included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, predictive validity, and responsivity to change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 207 stable patients (mean age 57.2 years) had a Bhalla score of 11.53 ± 7.39 and FEV1% of 68.3 ± 22.2 %. One hundred and sixty-one stable patients repeated the test 2 weeks later, and 80 patients who had an exacerbation within 6 months of the assessment also repeated it. Internal consistency was high across all scales (Cronbach's alpha >0.70). Thirty-six of 37 items correlated more strongly with their assigned scale than a competing scale. Test-retest coefficients were strong (intraclass correlations r = 0.68-0.88). All scales, except Treatment Burden, discriminated significantly between patients with mild, moderate, and severe disease according to FEV1% and other respiratory parameters. Strong convergence was found between the QOL-B-Sp-V3.0 and SGRQ. Significant correlations were found between QOL-B-Sp-V3.0 and various clinical, spirometric, radiological, and anthropometric variables. Significant differences were found on all QOL-B-Sp-V3.0 scales, except emotional functioning, between the baseline responses and onset of an exacerbation; robust sensitivity to change was observed on the Respiratory Symptoms scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The QOL-B-Sp-V3.0 questionnaire demonstrated strong reliability and validity. Scores were reproducible after 2 weeks, and it discriminated between patients who varied in severity and was responsive to changes related to exacerbation.
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Service, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga. IBIMA (Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga), Universidad de Málaga, Avenida Carlos Haya, 29010, Malaga, Spain, casi1547@separ.es.
authors.forename: Casilda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olveira
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olveira
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Espildora
authors.forename: Rosa-Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Giron
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Quittner
authors.forename: Miguel-Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martinez-Garcia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult