title: Health-related quality of life in food-allergic adults from eight European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food allergy can impair health-related quality of life (HRQL). Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQs) have been developed and validated, including an adult form (FAQLQ-AF). HRQL has not, to date, been measured across different European countries using a uniform methodology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To translate and validate the FAQLQ-AF for use in 8 European countries (Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Sweden).
  
  
  METHODS
  The English FAQLQ-AF was translated, back-translated, and compared for use in the 8 relevant European languages. Adults with a perceived food allergy were recruited from outpatient departments and through a community survey. Participants completed the FAQLQ-AF, the Food Allergy Independent Measure, and questions concerning participants' characteristics. Validity of the FAQLQ-AF was analyzed for use in the 8 countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FAQLQ-AF had strong construct validity (r > 0.59) and an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α > 0.95) in all countries. Total FAQLQ-AF scores (range 3.2-5.0) were significantly different across participating countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FAQLQ-AF is a suitable and valid instrument for measuring HRQL in food-allergic adults in Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Sweden. The impact of food allergy on HRQL seems to differ among adults from the 8 participating European countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.j.goossens@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Nicole J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bertine M J
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Flokstra-de Blok
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Allergy, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerbrich N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Allergy Research and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marianne H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Arnlind
authors.affiliation: Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Clinica San Carlo, Paderno Dugnano, Italy.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asero
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Research Unit, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barreales
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burney
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergología, Hospital Universitario del Sureste, Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Imnaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cerecedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Landspitali, University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Monteserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandéz-Rivas
authors.affiliation: Food Safety and Consumer Behaviour, Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands; CRE, SAFRD, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frewer
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de la Hoz Caballer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Allergy Research and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sven-Arne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jedrzejczak-Czechowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: André C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Knulst
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Department of Chest Diseases, University Hospitals, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Economics and Sociology, Lodz University, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rokicka
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Economics and Sociology, Lodz University, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Starosta
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vásquez-Cortés
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duiverman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anthony E J
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dubois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards