title: [Prospective validation of the Spanish version of the Short Form-Liver Disease Quality of life].
abstract: Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) assessed by a specific, validated, brief test is an important measure of the health status perceived by patients diagnosed with chronic liver disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively validate the SF-LDQOL (Short Form-Liver Disease Quality of Life) instrument in Spanish, in patients diagnosed with liver disease of diverse etiologies and distinct severity levels, attended at the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (Barcelona).
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational, longitudinal study was conducted by using the SF-LDQOL in outpatients diagnosed with chronic liver disease. This instrument contains the generic SF-36 test, and 9 liver disease-specific dimensions. We also evaluated socio-demographic features, the number of missing responses, and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), as well as Pearson's correlation between SF-36 and SF-LDQOL scores on specific dimensions by means of a multi-trait multi-method technique. The sample consisted of 340 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 6 out of 9 liver disease-specific dimensions, reliability coefficients for internal consistency exceeded 0.70. The convergent validity of these items was acceptable in 8 out of 9 dimensions, with a scaling success of 100% in each item. Missing items were under 1.5% in all dimensions, except for Sexual Functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Spanish version of the SF-LDQOL has, in general, good psychometric properties, making it a useful instrument for clinical practice in a population of patients diagnosed with chronic liver disease, with or without liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Hepatóloga, Programa asistencial de hepatitis crónicas, Unidad de Trasplante Hepático, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, España. Electronic address: teresacasanovas@bellvitgehospital.cat.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Casanovas Taltavull
authors.affiliation: Psicóloga investigadora, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, España.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandía Frías
authors.affiliation: Psicólogo investigador, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Joan-Salvador
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vilallonga Vilarmau
authors.affiliation: Hepatóloga, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, España.
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Peña-Cala
authors.affiliation: Enfermera, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, España.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de la Iglesia Vicario
authors.affiliation: Analista de resultados de estudios de salud, Mataró, España.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herdman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud; Chronic liver disease; Cirrhosis; Cirrosis; Enfermedad hepática crónica; Fiabilidad; Health-related quality of life; Liver transplantation; Reliability; Trasplante hepático; Validez; Validity