Validation of the Arabic version of swallowing quality of life questionnaire

Abstract

Dysphagia is caused by sensorimotor function disruption of swallowing. In 2000, McHorney et al. first developed the SWAL-QOL (swallowing quality of life questionnaire). It is considered to be one of the initial self-rated tools which is dysphagia-specific. The SWAL-QOL has been translated into many languages such as Dutch, French, Chinese, Swedish, Persian, German, and Arabic (its linguistic validation was tested only but its validation and reliability has not been determined). The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of SWAL-QOL (ASWAL-QOL) in adult patients complaining of oropharyngeal dysphagia. Patients were enrolled from the outpatient swallowing clinic of Main University hospitals starting from the first of March 2018 to the end of May 2019. According to these criteria, sums of 100 patients were involved in the study and they completed the ASWAL-QOL together with Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI). There was a strong correlation between the eating desire, eating duration, and food selection in ASWAL-QOL and the functional domain in (DHI). This was found as well between mental health and social functioning in ASWAL-QOL and emotional domain in (DHI) that was used for convergent validity. While checking reliability, nearly most of the domains demonstrated stability over short term as well as excellent internal consistency reliability. The current study illustrated that the ASWAL-QOL questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate the impact of difficulties in swallowing on the quality of life in patients suffering from oropharyngeal dysphagia.