Turkish translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the Qualisex questionnaire in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

PURPOSE: To translate and culturally validate the Qualisex questionnaire into Turkish and investigate its psychometric properties, including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, reproducibility, convergent and structural validity, and floor and ceiling effects in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

METHODS

The English version of the Qualisex was translated and culturally adapted into Turkish in accordance with international guidelines. Psychometric properties structural validity (factor analysis) internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]), measurement error (standard error of the measurement [SEM], minimal detectable difference [MDD]), and convergent validity were studied. Floor and ceiling effects were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients with axSpA were included. We found a very good internal consistency (Cronbach's α of 0.91) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC of 0.99) of the Turkish Qualisex. The SEM demonstrated a range between 0.15 and 0.50, and the MDD was observed to vary from 0.41 to 1.44. The total Qualisex score significantly correlated with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL), disease duration, and pain severity. One factor was identified within the Qualisex.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the Turkish Qualisex is reliable and valid outcome measure for assessing quality of sexual life in patients with axSpA.