Language and cross-cultural influences in the psychometric evaluation of the Malaysian FertiQoL

• Main Authors: Ariffin, Farnaza, Daud, Suzanna, Ismail, Zaliha, Zainuddin, Ani Amelia, Ramli, Roszaman
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: UPM Press 2020
• Subjects: RG Gynecology and obstetrics
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/82649/1/82649_Language%20and%20cross-cultural%20influences%20in%20the%20psychometric_ft.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/82649/2/82649_Language%20and%20cross-cultural%20influences%20in%20the%20psychometric_scopus.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/82649/; https://medic.upm.edu.my/jurnal_kami/malaysian_journal_of_medicine_and_health_sciences_mjmhs/mjmhs_vol_16_no_2_may_2020-56552

Introduction: FertiQoL questionnaire was developed and validated in 2011. It has been widely used and translated into many languages to measure QoL among infertile individuals. The use of translated psychometric tools is often subjected to cross-cultural variations. The objective of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the Malaysian FertiQoL. Methods: A study was conducted among attendees of a public infertility clinic. Demographic details were collected and respondents answered the Malaysian FertiQoL. The questionnaire consists of 34 items. Factor analysis and internal consistency were analysed using SPSS v24. Results: Data from 175 respondents were analysed. Mean age is 32.1 ±3.8 SD with 56.6% female and 43.4% male. KMO index were 0.826 and significant Bartlett's test for sphericity. For Treatment domain, factor loadings for items T2 and T5 were < 0.32 but for all other items were acceptable between 0.32 - 0.80 with no cross loadings and Cronbach alpha for environment (0.717) and tolerability (0.660). For Core items, Q4, Q6 and Q14 loaded onto different domains and Q19 had poor factor loading. All other items were acceptable. Cronbach alpha for specific domains were emotional (0.788) mind-body (0.829), relational (0.639) and social (0.666). Cronbach alpha for emotional, relational, social improved to 0.857, 0.643 and 0.732 if Q4, Q6 and Q14 were omitted respectively. Conclusion: The study identified six items that affected the psychometric validity of the questionnaire and maybe explained by language or cross-cultural reasons. However, the Malaysian FertiQoL can still be useful to measure QoL in those with infertility.