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The Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Version of the Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (DSWAL-QOL)

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (DSWAL-QOL). A cross-sectional survey of 295 dysphagic patients and 124 healthy controls was studied to evaluate the validity and reliability of the DSWAL-QOL, and 50 patients were recruited for the test–retest reliability. Construct validity was validated through principal component analysis and a correlation study between the DSWAL-QOL and the SF-36. The psychometric properties of the DSWAL-QOL were found to be largely similar to those of the original SWAL-QOL, except the Sleep scale; the composite Symptoms score reaffirms its validity in this study. The DSWAL-QOL was able to differentiate between dysphagic and nondysphagic patients and is sensitive to disease severity as measured by known-groups validity, based on different food and liquid textures. The DSWAL-QOL is a clinically valid and reliable tool for assessing the quality of life in Dutch-speaking dysphagic patients, regardless of the cause or severity of the dysphagia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium

    Jan Vanderwegen

  2. Department of Otolaryngology and Rehabilitation Centre for Communication Disorders, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium

    Jan Vanderwegen, Gwen Van Nuffelen & Marc De Bodt

  3. Heistraat 7, 3150, Haacht, Belgium

    Jan Vanderwegen

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  1. Jan Vanderwegen
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  2. Gwen Van Nuffelen
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Correspondence to Jan Vanderwegen.

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Vanderwegen, J., Van Nuffelen, G. & De Bodt, M. The Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Version of the Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (DSWAL-QOL). Dysphagia 28, 11–23 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-012-9408-y

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