Development and validation of the Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of LifeQuestionnaire

Background The 28-item Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (R QLQ) has strong measurement properties but for large clinical trials, surve ys and practice monitoring, where high efficiency is important, a shorter q uestionnaire is needed. Objective To develop and validate an abbreviated version of the RQLQ. Methods Using five RQLQ databases, items with high item-item correlations w ere combined and then the highest scoring items were selected for the MiniR QLQ (14 questions). There are five domains: activity limitations (standardi zed). practical problems and nose symptoms, eye symptoms and other symptoms . The MiniRQLQ, which is self-administered. was tested in a 5-week observat ional study in 100 adults with symptomatic rhinoconjunctivitis. Patients co mpleted the MiniRQLQ, the RQLQ, and other measures of health status at base line. 1 and 5 weeks. Results In patients whose rhinoconjunctivitis was stable between clinic vis its, reliability (reproducibility and ability to discriminate between patie nts of different impairment) was very acceptable for the MiniRQLQ (ICC = 0. 93) but not quite as good as for the RQLQ (ICC = 0.97). Responsiveness to c hange in clinical status was better with the MiniRQLQ than the RQLQ (P = 0. 044). Construct validity (correlation with other indices of health status) was strong for both the MiniRQLQ and the RQLQ. Concordance between the two instruments was high (ICC = 0.87). Conclusions The MiniRQLQ has strong measurement properties and measures the same construct as the original RQLQ. The choice of questionnaire should de pend on the task at hand.