Establishing equivalence of a Chinese version of the stroke specific quality of life measure for stroke survivors

INTRODUCTION: The Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale is a stroke-specific measure of health-related quality of life. However, there has been no Chinese (Hong Kong) version of the scale. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted to examine the reliability, validity and factor structure of the translated version (SSQOL-C) among stroke survivors. Participants completed SSQOL-C, and the Chinese versions of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ-C) and Frenchay Activities Index (FAI). Thirty of these participants completed the same questionnaires after 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 135 stroke survivors (mean age 58.90 ± 9.75) were recruited. SSQOL-C had good internal consistency with Cronbach's alphas for each domain ranging from 0.63 to 0.90. Most domains had moderate to high correlations with similar dimensions of SF-36, SSEQ-C, FAI and Barthel ADL Index total scores (Spearman's rho: 0.40-0.77, p < 0.01), suggesting acceptable convergent validity. Principal component analyses suggested an 11-factor model in contrast to the 12-factor model for the original scale with six new factors emerging and five original factors retained. DISCUSSION: The results suggest SSQOL-C is a reliable and valid tool for measuring Chinese stroke survivors' health-related quality of life. More studies are needed to confirm the 11-factor model of the scale. Implications for rehabilitation The translated Chinese version of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale is a reliable and valid tool for measuring Chinese stroke survivors' health-related quality of life. An 11-factor model in contrast to the 12-factor model for the original scale with six new factors emerging and five original factors retained.