Validation of Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index in Swedish for assessing the impact of gallstones on health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to validate a Swedish translation of the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaire in patients with gallstone disease.

METHODS

Sensitivity to change, internal consistency, and test-retest stability were tested in 187 consecutive patients who underwent planned cholecystectomy. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the GIQLI score with the bodily pain scale of SF-36 and four single-item questions in a separate group of 104 patients.

RESULTS

A significant increase in all five domains as well as in the overall GIQLI score 6 months after surgery (all P < 0.05) was seen. All five domains correlated significantly with other measures of gallstone-related symptoms except one single-item question. Intraclass correlations ranged from 0.62 to 0.87. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.77 to 0.89.

CONCLUSION

The Swedish translation of GIQLI has a high validity and reliability for assessing the impact of gallstones on quality of life.