Validation of a Chinese version of the Medical Outcomes Study Family and Marital Functioning Measures in patients with SLE

The objective was to validate a Chinese translation of the Medical Outcomes Study Family and Marital Functioning Measures (FFM and MFM) in patients wi th systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Chinese-speaking SLE patients (n = 69) completed a self-administered questi onnaire containing the FFM and MFM and assessing demographic and socio-econ omic status twice within a 2 week period. SLE activity, disease-related dam age and quality of life were assessed using the BILAG, SLICC/ACR Damage Ind ex and SF-36 Health Survey, respectively. Scale psychometric properties wer e assessed through factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, quantifying test-rete st differences and known-groups construct validity. Factor analysis identified 1 factor corresponding to the FFM and 2 factors corresponding to the MFM. Internal consistency for the FFM was excellent (a lpha = 0.92) while that for the MFM was acceptable (alpha = 0.62). Mean (s. d.) test-retest differences were 0.06 (1.54) points for the FFM and 0.03 (2 .08) points for the MFM. 11 and 10 of 13 a priori hypotheses relating the F FM and MFM, respectively, to demographic, disease and quality of life varia bles were confirmed, supporting the construct validity of these scales. The Chinese FFM and MFM are valid and reliable measures of family and marit al functioning in Chinese-speaking SLE patients, with psychometric properti es very similar to the source English version.