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Original Article
 

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire–Adult Form (S-FAQLQ-AF)
 

Antolin-Amerigo D1, Cerecedo Carballo I2, Muriel A3, Fernández-Rivas M4, Diéguez Pastor M5, Flokstra-de Blok B6, Dubois A7, De la Hoz Caballer B8

1Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain. Current position: Servicio de Enfermedades del Sistema Inmune-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Medicina y Especialidades Médicas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
2Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain. Current position: Medical Department, Leti Laboratories, Madrid, Spain
3Unidad de Bioestadística Clínica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, CIBERESP, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
4Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
5Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
6Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
7Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Pulmonology and Paediatric Allergy, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
8Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2015; Vol. 25(4): 270-275
 

 Abstract


Introduction: Specific food allergy quality of life questionnaires have been developed within the context of the EuroPrevall project. We aimed to adapt and validate the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) in the Spanish language.

Methods: The original English questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted into Spanish following World Health Organization guidelines. The final Spanish version of the FAQLQ-AF (S-FAQLQ-AF) was approved by the original authors. Consecutive patients (≥18 years old) who fulfilled the following criteria were recruited: 1) diagnosis of food allergy defined as immediate allergic symptoms and a positive prick test or IgE against the culprit food(s) and 2) physician-assessed ability to complete the questionnaires. Patients completed the S-FAQLQ-AF and a Spanish version of the SF-12 questionnaire. Reliability was assessed 10 to 14 days after completion of the first questionnaire.

Results: Eighty-two consecutive outpatients were recruited and cross-sectional validity was assessed based on the correlation between the S-FAQLQ-AF and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) in this population (rho=0.83, P<.0001). The S-FAQLQ-AF showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α, 0.95). S-FAQLQ-AF domains also had excellent internal consistency: α=0.93 for allergen avoidance-dietary restrictions; α=0.83 for emotional impact; α=0.85 for risk of accidental exposure, and α=0.66 for food allergy related health. Limited correlation was found between the S-FAQLQ-AF and the SF-12.

Conclusion: The S-FAQLQ-AF is a valid, short, easy-to-use, and reliable instrument that discriminates between patients with different atopic phenotypes and is suitable for assessing the impact of IgE-mediated food allergy on patient quality of life.

Key words: Quality of life. Food allergy. Questionnaire. Specific questionnaire. Health-related quality of life. HRQL. Anaphylaxis.
 
   
 

 

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