QUALAS Validation in Dutch

Rationale Patients with spina bifida often experience a decreased quality of life compared to patients without spina bifida. The Quality of Life Assessment for Spina Bifida (QUALAS) is a validated questionnaire to assess the quality of life in children, teenagers and adults with spina bifida, accounting for specific factors, such as bladder and bowel dysfunction. This questionnaire enables us to assess the current spina bifida related quality of life and identify if bladder and bowel dysfunction is of influence. Objective(s) To validate the Quality of Life Assessment for Spina Bifida in Children, Teenagers and Adults in Dutch. Study type A multicenter prospective validation cohort study. Study population Children aged 8 - 17 years and adults who are diagnosed with spina bifida. As a control group children aged 8 - 17 years and adults without spina bifida will be approached at the Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) and paediatric clinics. Methods The main study parameter is the validation of the Dutch version of the questionnaire. Patients with spina bifida are asked to fill out the QUALAS at two time-points. They are also asked to fill out an extra questionnaire at two time-points, in order to validate the QUALAS. Children and adults in the control groups are asked to fill out the two questionnaires only once. Burden and risks No (extra) outpatient visit is required. The questions in the questionnaires are similar to the medical history during an outpatient visit. The burden is therefore minimal for these patients. Participation in this study will not influence patient treatment. Recruitment and consent Parents of children and children and adults who meet the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be informed orally about this study by their treating urologist during a regular visit. A patient information and consent form will be handed over to the parents and children over eight years of age and adults. Parents of children and children and adults at the ENT clinic will be approached by the local urologist for participation for this study. If they are willing to participate they will be asked to sign informed consent and fill out the questionnaire.