title: Validation and reliability of a Behcet's Syndrome Activity Scale in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We prepared a cross-cultural adaptation of the Behcet's Syndrome Activity Scale (BSAS) and evaluated its reliability and validity in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with Behcet's disease (BD) who attended the Rheumatology Clinic of Gachon University Gil Medical Center were included in this study. The first BSAS questionnaire was administered at each clinic visit, and the second questionnaire was completed at home within 24 hours of the visit. A Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) and a Behcet's Disease Quality of Life (BDQOL) form were also given to patients. The test-retest reliability was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). To assess the validity, the total BSAS score was compared with the BDCAF score, the patient/physician global assessment, and the BDQOL by Spearman rank correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve males and 38 females were enrolled. The mean age was 48.5 years and the mean disease duration was 6.7 years. Thirty-eight patients (76.0%) returned the questionnaire by mail. For the test-retest reliability, the two assessments were significantly correlated on all 10 items of the BSAS questionnaire (p < 0.05) and the total BSAS score (ICC, 0.925; p < 0.001). The total BSAS score was statistically correlated with the BDQOL, BDCAF, and patient/physician global assessment (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Korean version of BSAS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure BD activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Ryoung
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Behcet syndrome; Questionnaires; Reliability and validity; Republic of Korea; Severity of illness index