Serbian Validation of the Individualized Neuromuscular Quality of Life Questionnaire (INQoL) in Adults With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Abstract

Background: To validate Individualized Neuromuscular Quality of Life Questionnaire (INQoL) in Serbian patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

Methods: This study included 102 patients with adult onset DM1. Validation included reliability analysis (internal consistency, reproducibility), content-related validity (psychometric evaluation, construct-related validity, criterion-related validity) and concurrent validity.

Results: The internal consistency of the Serbian version of INQoL was excellent (Cronbach's α 0.864-0.961). Test-retest reliability satisfied the requested level (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.713-0.979). Item internal consistency and discriminant validity were excellent. INQoL scores were significantly affected by age of patients, duration of disease and severity of muscular impairment (< 0.01), slightly affected by education (< 0.05) and not related to gender (> 0.05). Correlation between INQoL scales and comparable SF-36 domains was significant (< 0.01) but INQoL also registered locking and body image omitted by SF-36.

Conclusion: Serbian version of INQoL is reliable and valid quality of life (QoL) measure for patients with DM1, able to capture disease specific issues usually omitted by generic questionnaires.




J Neurol Res. 2011;1(4):153-160
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jnr54w