English Translation and Validation of the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory (ZCMEI‐21‐E) Assessing Quality of Life in Chronic Otitis Media: A Prospective International Multicenter Study

Abstract

Objectives

To translate and validate the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory (ZCMEI‐21) for the English language in order to provide an English instrument to assess health‐related quality of life in chronic otitis media (COM).

Design

Pilot translation study including cognitive debriefings, prospective multicenter cross‐sectional psychometric validation study.

Setting

Four tertiary referral centers in three different English‐speaking countries (United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia).

Participants

Adult patients suffering from COM.

Main outcome measures

The English translation of the ZCMEI‐21 (ZCMEI‐21‐E) and the five‐level version of the EQ‐5D questionnaire. The EQ‐5D, which constitutes a generic measure of health‐related quality of life, consists of a descriptive system score and a visual analogue scale. Statistical outcomes included single item descriptive statistics, internal consistency (Cronbach's α) as an indicator of reliability, as well as construct validity.

Results

A total of 124 patients suffering from COM were included. The mean age was 50.1 years (SD 16.9 years) and 72 (58.1%) were males. The Cronbach's α of the ZCMEI‐21‐E was 0.91, suggesting an excellent internal consistency. The Spearman's correlation coefficient of the ZCMEI‐21‐E total score was 0.55 (p < 0.0001) for convergent construct validity with EQ‐5D descriptive system score and 0.57 (p < 0.0001) with the EQ‐5D visual analogue scale.

Conclusions

The ZCMEI‐21‐E is a new validated questionnaire that provides clinicians with a short, comprehensive and reliable instrument to quantify health‐related quality of life in patients suffering from COM. The ZCMEI‐21‐E may be of use in clinical routine as well as in outcome research and monitoring.

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