Italian validation of the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life Scale (PANQOL-It)

Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2023 Apr;43(2):130-139. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-N2263.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Objective: translate and validate the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life Scale into Italian language (PANQOL-It).

Methods: the instrument was translated and psychometric properties were subsequently assessed by administering the PANQOL-It to 124 outpatients together with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21) and the Understanding and Communicating domain of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II-D1). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct and criterion-related validity were assessed.

Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92 for the total score and ranged from 0.44 to 0.90 in the seven domains. Significant test-retest reliability was observed (intraclass-correlation = 0.75; p < 0.01). Moderate correlation was reported between facial dysfunction domain and objective facial involvement (p < 0.01). Moderate to strong correlations were observed between anxiety, general health domains and all subscales of the DASS21, and between WHODAS II-D1 and general health and energy domains (p < 0.01). These latter results indicated good construct and criterion-related validity respectively.

Conclusions: PANQOL-It presented more than acceptable psychometric properties and its adoption is justified for both clinical and research purposes.

Validazione italiana del Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life Scale (PANQOL-It).

Obiettivo: Validare in lingua italiana il Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life Scale (PANQOL-It).

Metodi: Lo strumento è stato somministrato a 124 pazienti ambulatoriali congiuntamente alle versioni italiane del Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21) e della sezione “Understanding and Communicating” del World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II-D1). Sono state valutate la consistenza interna, la riproducibilità, la validità di costrutto e di criterio.

Risultati: Il coefficiente alfa di Cronbach è risultato di 0,92 per il punteggio totale e compreso tra 0,44 e 0,90 nelle sette dimensioni del questionario, mentre la correlazione intra-classe è risultata significativa (ICC = 0,75; p < 0,01). Sono state osservate una moderata correlazione tra la dimensione “facial dysfunction” e il grado di paralisi del nervo facciale, da moderate a forti correlazioni tra le dimensioni “anxiety” e “general health” e il DASS21, e tra il WHODAS II-D1 e le dimensioni “general health” ed “energy” (p < 0,01). Questi riscontri indicano rispettivamente una buona validità di costrutto e di criterio.

Conclusioni: Il PANQOL-It ha presentato proprietà psicometriche ottime e la sua adozione è giustificata sia per scopi clinici che di ricerca.

Keywords: dizziness; health; hearing loss; tinnitus; vestibular schwannoma.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Language
  • Neuroma, Acoustic*
  • Quality of Life
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

Internal departmental funding was used to support this study without commercial sponsorship. This research received no other specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.