The Finnish versions of food allergy quality of life questionnaires including parent form 10.

Abstract

Examining health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important to improve patient care. In this study, we translate and evaluate the Finnish versions of the Food Allergy Specific Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQs) from a Finnish perspective and undertake a detailed evaluation of the 10-question Parent Form Questionnaire (FAQLQ-PF10). This validation study was performed to evaluate the Finnish versions of the FAQLQs. Validation was performed by analysing clinical characteristics, factor loadings and Cronbach's α reliability estimates. The inclusion criteria for participants in this study were having a doctor-diagnosed food allergy or being a parent of a child with a doctor-diagnosed food allergy and being able to answer the questionnaire in Finnish. Altogether, 247 questionnaires were completed in this study. Most of the respondents had multiple food allergies (77%, 189/247). Spearman's correlations related to the 10-question parent form (FAQLQ-PF10), the 30-question parent form (FAQLQ-PF) and the Food Allergy Severity Measurement-Parent Form (FAIM-PF) were statistically significant (p value = 0.000-0.007). The reliability of the Finnish versions of the FAQLQs measured by Cronbach's α was overall good (0.75-0.981). The Finnish versions of the FAQLQs are reliable and suitable to use, and the FAQLQ-PF10 has good usability.