Validation and Reliability of the Thai version of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF).

BACKGROUND

Food allergy has an impact on the quality of life of both patients and caregivers. It is, therefore, important to have a native language survey to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL) among food allergic children.

OBJECTIVE

To translate the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) to Thai language, and to validate this tool in Thai parents with food allergic children.

METHODS

The FAQLQ-PF was translated into Thai language according to WHO guideline. The FAQLQ-PF Thai version was then administered to the parents of food allergic Thai children aged 0-12 years. The FAQLQ-PF Thai version was then readministered to those same parents 10-14 days after they first completed this assessment tool. Internal consistency by Cronbach's α and test-retest reliability by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were assessed. The discriminant validity of the questionnaire was also evaluated.

RESULTS

Ninety parents of participants answered the FAQLQ-PF Thai version. Of those, 9 parents (10%) incompletely answered the first questionnaire. The FAQLQ-PF Thai version showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α ≥ 0.799), but the test-retest reliability was only fair (ICC > 0.6). Factors that adversely affected the quality of life of Thai children with food allergy included age, presence of anaphylaxis, frequency of reactions, and the number of implicated foods. Patients with wheat allergy were negatively impacted in all domains of quality of life, whereas those with shellfish allergy had only emotional impact.

CONCLUSIONS

The FAQLQ-PF Thai version is a reliable and valid tool for assessing HRQL in Thai children with food allergy.