Moroccan Arabic version of the Quality of Life Inventory in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31): translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric validation.

Abstract

There is currently a growing concern to conduct health-related quality of life (HRQOL) studies among people with epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries, as most data have been derived from high-income countries in North America and Europe. To translate, adapt and validate the Moroccan Arabic version of the QOL Inventory in Epilepsy-31 (MA-QOLIE-31) to evaluate HRQOL predictors in the Moroccan population with epilepsy. Adaptation and validation of QOLIE-31 were performed in July 2018 among 118 patients with epilepsy in the Fez-Meknes region. The test was translated, adapted and validated into Arabic according to the Streiner & Norman recommendations. Acceptability, reliability, central tendency and validity of the QOLIE-31 were assessed. The acceptability and reproducibility were satisfactory and the internal consistency was strong (Cronbach α = 0.993). The mean (standard deviation) global score of QOL in the MA-QOLIE-31 was 68 (22.16). The scores in the subscales were 51 (36.88) for seizures worry, 48.86 (25.44) for overall QOL, 45.60 (26.73) for well-being, 41.28 (25.37) for energy and fatigue, 47.55 (28.33) for cognitive function, 66.83 (39.49) for medication effects and 52.44 (30.26) for social functioning. The global score of QOL in Moroccan patients with epilepsy is similar to that in patients in low and middle- income countries. MA-QOLIE-31 will facilitate further studies in HRQOL in Morocco and Arabic-speaking countries.