Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are useful instruments that give providers insight into patients' experiences with disease by quantifying the symptoms that matter most to patients. Results of these questionnaires can help guide management in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, these tools are often developed for native English speakers, which disadvantages others, who already have a language barrier to care. The aim of this study is to evaluate accessibility and readability of Spanish PROMs used to evaluate rhinosinusitis.
Methods: Three Spanish readability measures, Gilliam, Peña & Mountain; SOL; and Fernandez-Huerta were used to evaluate PROMs utilized for rhinosinusitis. PROMs with sixth-grade readability level or easier were considered to meet health literacy recommendations.
Results: Four Spanish PROMs utilized in assessment of rhinosinusitis were identified and evaluated. Cuestionario Español de Calidad de Vida en Rinitis (ESPRINT-15) was the most readable PROM and met readability recommendations in two of three measures. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation met suggested levels in one measure. The remainder of readability scores were more difficult than recommended.
Conclusion: PROMs are powerful clinical tools that help patients communicate their symptoms and self-advocate. For providers to gain accurate and useful information, these measures should be written at appropriate readability levels. Most Spanish PROMs used for assessment of rhinosinusitis were above recommended readability. Development of future PROMs should ensure appropriate readability levels to provide good patient-centered care for our primarily Spanish speaking patients.
Keywords: patient reported outcome measure; quality of life; sinusitis.