Italian adaptation of the S3-non-invasive ventilation (S3-NIV) questionnaire for home mechanically ventilated patients

Background: The growing numbers of patients requiring home noninvasive mechanical ventilation (HNMV) urge to use a valid and easy questionnaire to monitor HNMV in clinical practice and for optimizing the related offered services. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a professional translation and cultural adaptation S3 non-invasive ventilation questionnaire in Italian. Material and Methods: after official Italian translation and collection of written consent, patients visiting outpatients clinic of 4 tertiary clinics with chronic respiratory insufficiency using HNMV were enrolled and completed the S3NIV questionnaire translated. The most frequent diagnostic groups were amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results: 154 stable patients (95 male, 61.7%) with a mean age of 66.9±14.0 years were recruited Internal consistency for the total score was good (Cronbach's  coefficient of 0.84) as well as for the ''respiratory symptoms'' and the ''sleep and side effects'' domains (Cronbach's  _ coefficient = 0.85 and Cronbach's  _ coefficient = 0.63, respectively), lastly for NIV intolerance (Cronbach's  _ coefficient = 0.64). An exploratory factor analysis was carried out giving a Kaiser---Meyer---Olkin (KMO) of 0.80. Three factors explained 64.2% of the total variance. Conclusions: The Italian version of the S3-NIV questionnaire is efficient, reliable and handy as the original version in monitoring the ongoing daily problems faced by patients using HNMV and for the health care providers involved in their care.