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Validation and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) in patients with fibromyalgia

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Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease associated with high disability levels, which in turn lead to low quality of life (QOL). The objectives of this study were to translate the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) into Spanish and to assess its reliability and validity for its use in patients with FM. A total of 140 women are suffering from FM (52.87 ± 9.35 years old). All belonged to an association of FM patients (AFIXA, Jaén, Spain). The Spanish versions of the FM impact questionnaire (FIQ), the SF-36, and Beck’s Depression Inventory were used to assess them. The construct’s validity was checked by means of exploratory factorial analysis (varimax with Kaiser normalization). Test–retest reliability was assessed through intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and convergent validity through Spearman’s correlation. Results show that Cronbach’s alpha was 0.887, which revealed high internal consistency. The value of ICC for the QOLS total was 0.765 (95 % CI 0.649–0.843, p < 0.001). QOLS presented a significant Spearman’s correlation (p < 0.01) with Beck’s Inventory, with the physical and mental subtotals of SF-36 and with FIQ. The main component analysis and the varimax rotation revealed the convergence on three factors that account for 54.05 % of variance. Taking into account the severity of the disorder, significant differences (p < 0.05) appeared in QOLS, with moderately afflicted patients getting higher scores than the most severe cases. In conclusion, our study shows that the Spanish version of the QOLS is a reliable instrument, with a good convergent and discriminant construct validity, for measuring the QOL of Spanish FM patients.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to the direction team of the Fibromyalgia Association of Jaén, and to all the associates who took part in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Didactic of Musical, Plastic and Corporal Expression, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain

    Pedro A. Latorre-Román, Emilio Martínez-López, Ángel Moral & María A. Santos

  2. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain

    Antonio Martínez-Amat & Fidel Hita-Contreras

  3. Department of Anatomía y Embriología, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine (IBIMER), University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Antonio Martínez-Amat & Fidel Hita-Contreras

Authors
  1. Pedro A. Latorre-Román
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  2. Antonio Martínez-Amat
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  3. Emilio Martínez-López
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  4. Ángel Moral
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  5. María A. Santos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fidel Hita-Contreras.

Appendix: Spanish version of the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS)

Appendix: Spanish version of the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS)

Por favor, lea cada apartado y haga un círculo sobre el número que mejor describe como de satisfecha se encuentra en este momento. Por favor, responda a cada apartado incluso si actualmente no participa en alguna actividad o no tiene una relación de pareja. Puede estar satisfecha o insatisfecha sin hacer esa actividad o sin tener una relación de pareja.

 

Encantado

Muy contento

En su mayor parte satisfecho

Indiferente

En su mayor parte insatisfecho

Infeliz

Fatal

1. Comodidades materiales, casa, comida, instalaciones, seguridad financiera

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2. Salud. Estar físicamente en forma y con vitalidad

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3. Relación con los padres, hermanos y otros parientes. Comunicación, visitas, ayuda

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7. Ayudando y animando a otras personas, voluntariado, aconsejando

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8. Participando en organizaciones y asuntos de interés público

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9. Aprendiendo-Asistiendo a clases, mejorando el entendimiento, adquiriendo conocimiento adicional

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10. Entendiéndose a uno mismo, conociendo sus virtudes y sus limitaciones-encontrando un sentido a la vida

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13. Haciendo vida social- conociendo a otras personas, haciendo cosas, fiestas, etc.

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14. Leyendo, escuchando música o viendo un espectáculo

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Latorre-Román, P.A., Martínez-Amat, A., Martínez-López, E. et al. Validation and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) in patients with fibromyalgia. Rheumatol Int 34, 543–549 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2874-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2874-1

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