Finnish translation and external validation of the Trauma Quality of Life questionnaire

Abstract

Background and aims Major trauma impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was the Finnish translation and external validation of the Trauma Quality of Life (TQoL) questionnaire. Patients and methods The Finnish version of the TQoL questionnaire and the 15D, a generic HRQoL questionnaire, were sent by mail to 417 patients identified from the Helsinki Trauma Registry. Results Altogether 222 patients (53.2%) returned the questionnaires. Participants’ mean age was 49.9 ± 18.1 years and 68.8% were males. The mean 15D score was significantly lower than that of the age- and sex-standardized general Finnish population (0.817 vs. 0.918, p < 0.001). The correlation between the Finnish translation and 15D scores was high (0.805). Factor analysis revealed that the Finnish TQoL questionnaire and the 15D have four common factors. Internal validation identified some differences between the Finnish and the original versions. Conclusions The correlation between the Finnish TQoL questionnaire and the 15D was high. The factor structures of the original and Finnish versions of the TQoL questionnaire were not identical, which may be a consequence of cultural or patient population differences. Implications for rehabilitation Trauma causes a long-term decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and this impact should be assessed in rehabilitation. The Trauma-Specific Quality of Life (TQoL) questionnaire has many shared features with the generic HRQoL questionnaire, but it also contains features related to post-traumatic disorder syndrome. The TQoL questionnaire is a valid tool for monitoring HRQoL after trauma.