The validation and psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (DSWAL-QOL)

Dysphagia. 2013 Mar;28(1):11-23. doi: 10.1007/s00455-012-9408-y. Epub 2012 May 10.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (DSWAL-QOL). A cross-sectional survey of 295 dysphagic patients and 124 healthy controls was studied to evaluate the validity and reliability of the DSWAL-QOL, and 50 patients were recruited for the test-retest reliability. Construct validity was validated through principal component analysis and a correlation study between the DSWAL-QOL and the SF-36. The psychometric properties of the DSWAL-QOL were found to be largely similar to those of the original SWAL-QOL, except the Sleep scale; the composite Symptoms score reaffirms its validity in this study. The DSWAL-QOL was able to differentiate between dysphagic and nondysphagic patients and is sensitive to disease severity as measured by known-groups validity, based on different food and liquid textures. The DSWAL-QOL is a clinically valid and reliable tool for assessing the quality of life in Dutch-speaking dysphagic patients, regardless of the cause or severity of the dysphagia.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cultural Competency
  • Deglutition Disorders / psychology*
  • Deglutition Disorders / therapy
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Psychometrics
  • Quality of Life*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Translating