Validation of the ECOS-16 Questionnaire in Koreans with Osteoporosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the adapted Korean version of the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (ECOS-16).

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The validity of the Korean version of ECOS-16 has not been completely demonstrated.

METHODS: Translation/retranslation of the English version of ECOS-16, and full cross-cultural adaptation were performed. The Korean version of a visual analog scale measure of pain, and the Korean versions of ECOS-16 and of the previously validated short form-36 (SF-36) were mailed to 158 consecutive patients with osteoporosis. Factor analysis and reliability assessment using kappa statistics of agreement for each item, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Cronbach's α were done. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing responses to ECOS-16 with responses to SF-36 using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS: Factor analysis extracted three factors. All items had a kappa statistics of agreement >0.6. The ECOS-16 showed good test/re-test reliability (0.8469) and internal consistency of Cronbach's α (0.897). The Korean version of ECOS-16 showed significant correlation with SF-36 total scores and with single SF-36 domains scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The adapted Korean version of the ECOS-16 was successfully translated and showed acceptable measurement properties. It is considered suitable for outcome assessments in Korean patients with osteoporosis.