Evaluating validity and reliability of the Arabic-version low-vision quality-of-life questionnaire

Abstract

Low-vision quality-of-life questionnaire (LVQOL) has not been developed in the Arabic language, and none has been translated into Arabic. This study would demonstrate the effectiveness of the translated questionnaire. The English LVQOL was translated into Arabic (ARB-LVQOL) through five stages. A total of 52 low vision and 30 normally sighted individuals participated in this study. The internal consistency reliability, item-total correlation reliability, construct validity, convergent validity, discriminative validity, and respondent burden of the ARB-LVQOL were calculated. The translation team recommended that the ARB-LVQOL replicated the meaning of the LVQOL. The cultural differences were also noted during the translation process. Cronbach’s coefficient was α = 0.90 in both low vision (LV) and simulated groups. The item-total correlation ranged from 0.50 to 0.70 in both groups. The intra-class correlation coefficient indicated good test–retest reliability (LV group, ranged 0.82–0.93; control group ranged 0.83–0.94). The factor analysis, using varimax rotation, of the ARB-VQOL identified seven factors. A moderate to a strong relationship between the score of each domain with the total index score was observed, indicating an adequate convergent validity. The ARB-LVQOL discriminated between normally sighted and simulated low-vision participants and also to some extent between the simulated and real low-vision individuals. The respondent burden was less than 15 min in most responses. The ARB-LVQOL was found to relate well with patients’ visual functions and some patients’ characteristics, providing further evidence of the validity of ARB-LVQOL. The ARB-LVQOL showed psychometric properties analogous to the English version. The ARB-LVQOL could be used in clinical settings and research in adults with low vision in Arabic populations.