The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D: a study from Jordan

• Published in: Annals of Saudi medicine Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 304 - 308
• Main Authors: Aburuz, Salah, Bulatova, Naela, Twalbeh, Mohammed, Gazawi, Moatasem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-07-2009; KING FAISAL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE; Medknow Publications; King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analysis; Arabic language; Brief Report; Cultural Characteristics; Decision-making; Female; Humans; Jordan; Language; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Jordan; Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 0256-4947; 0975-4466
• DOI: 10.4103/0256-4947.55313

EQ-5D is a generic measure that permits comparisons in quality of life across disease states, and which may provide useful data for health policy and resource allocation decision-making. There are no published reports on the acceptability and psychometric properties of the EQ-5D in the Arabic language. We therefore investigated the validity and reliability of the Arabic translation of the EQ-5D in Jordan.
The study was conducted on a convenience sample consisting of consecutive adult Arabic-speaking outpatients or visitors attending a university teaching hospital. Subjects were interviewed twice using a standardized questionnaire containing the EQ-5D, Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). To assess the validity of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D, ten hypotheses relating responses to EQ-5D dimensions or the visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) to SF-36 scores or other variables were examined and test-retest reliability was assessed.
The study included 186 subjects who had a mean age of 45.3 years and included 87 (47%) females. The major problem reported in more than 102 (55%) of the subjects was anxiety/depression. All of the ten apriori hypothesis relating EQ-5D responses to external variables were fulfilled. Cohenâs k for test-retest reliability (n=52) ranged from 0.48 to 1.0.
The Arabic translation of EQ-5D appears to be valid and reliable in measuring quality of life in Jordanian people.