ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN LYMPHEDEMA PATIENTS: VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE SWEDISH VERSION OF THE LYMPHEDEMA QUALITY OF LIFE INVENTORY (LQOLI)

Abstract

The Lymphedema Quality of LifeInventory (LQOLI) is an instrument developedfor patients with different types oflymphedema. It contains physical, emotional,social, and practical dimensions and consistsof 58 items, each with three sub itemsconcerning life quality, daily life changes, anddifficulties of changing and two itemsconcerning life quality in general and inrelation to lymphedema. The purpose of thisstudy was to adapt the Australian LQOLI toSwedish conditions and to test it for clarity,face validity, content validity, constructvalidity, and reliability. Content and facevalidity was completed by experts (n=11) andpatients with different types of lymphedema(n=16). For construct validation the SF-36(n=63) was used. Test-retest reliability wasevaluated with lymphedema patients (n=58)answering the questionnaire twice, withinmedian 3 weeks. Three items were added inthe Swedish version of LQOLI (SLQOLI).The kappa coefficients in test-retest for allitems and sub items varied (range=0.25-0.83).Construct validity showed moderate correlationwith SF-36. The SLQOLI is adaptedand valid, with moderate reliability, and it canbe used in clinic to describe life quality forpatients with lymphedema. In this study, 67%of the patients experienced an effect onlife quality within the physical dimension and54-58% within the emotional, social, andpractical dimensions.