Concept for quality of life measurement in patients suffering from chronicsinusitis.

Background: In 1997, Benninger developed the Rhinosinusitis Disability Inde x (RSBI) for patients who suffered from chronic sinusitis. Its content rela ted validity and construct related validity were established, as were its s ensitivity and reliability. The aim of our study is to introduce a concept to measure quality of life in these patients according to circumstances pre valent in Germany. Methods: The questionnaire (Rhinusitis-Beeintrachtigungs -Index, RSBI) contains 30 questions that describe the 5 aspects of quality of life. Moreover we used a standardized data sheet to acquire further info rmation about history and diagnostic results. Using this method it is possi ble to specifity more precisely the patients current complaints and conditi on. Evaluation is possible according to complex of questions as well as sim ple items. The influence of treatment on quality of life can be measured as the sum of the specific scores and is expressed comprehensively in the tot al score. The concept of the study includes a prospective inquiry as well a s before and after surgical intervention. Conclusion: A disadvantage of the American RSDI is that the clinical symptoms are not described in a detaile d catalogue which allows the correlation of the clinical factors. Therefore we added a detailed questionnaire concerning the clinical symptoms and the individual treatment of the patient (RSBI). That permits comprehensive ana lysis of quality of life as it relates to different aspects of disease and different strategies in treatment.