Italian translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Mayo Clinic Vestibular Schwannoma Quality of Life (VSQOL) Index

Background: The Mayo Clinic Vestibular Schwannoma Quality of Life (VSQOL) Index is a disease-specific instrument for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS). To date, there is no validated Italian version of this questionnaire. Objectives: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the VSQOL Index Version 2 in Italian (Italian VSQOL Index) while assessing its psychometric properties. Methods: The VSQOL Index Version 2 was translated and culturally adapted according to the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) methodology. A cohort of 39 Italian-speaking VS patients completed the Italian VSQOL Index alongside the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) Scale, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the 21-Item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and construct validity were analysed. Results: The Italian VSQOL Index demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's α ranging from 0.89 to 0.95 across its domains, and high test-retest reliability, indicated by an ICC ranging from 0.78 to 0.92 among the domains. Significant correlations with PANQOL, SF-36, and DASS-21 scores confirmed convergent validity. Patients received the questionnaire positively, with no major comprehension issues reported during cognitive debriefing. Conclusions: The Italian VSQOL Index is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing HRQoL in Italian-speaking VS patients. Its application in clinical practice and research will enhance the evaluation of disease impact and treatment outcomes within this population.