Comparison of the adult strabismus quality of life questionnaire (AS-20) with the amblyopia and strabismus questionnaire (ASQE) among adults with strabismus who seek medical care in China

Abstract

Background: The impact of strabismus on visual function, self-image, self-esteem, and social interactions might decrease health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical applications of two strabismus-specific HRQoL questionnaires in the cultural context of China. Methods: The Chinese versions of the Adult Strabismus Quality of Life Questionnaire (AS-20) and the Amblyopia and Strabismus Questionnaire (ASQE) were self-administered to 304 adults with strabismus. The Cronbach's a coefficient was calculated to assess the internal consistency reliability. The criterion-related validity was identified by exploring Spearman's correlation with the most widely used vision-specific quality of life questionnaire NEI-VFQ-25. One-way ANOVA was employed to examine the differences in the quality of life of strabismus patients with visually normal adults and with other eye diseases patients. Results: Significantly positive correlations with NEI-VFQ-25 were shown in both scales (r = 0.21-0.44, p <0.05, p <0.01). Both scales could distinguish individuals with strabismus from visually normal adults (p <0.001) and adults with other eye diseases (p <0.001). The overall Cronbach's a value were 0.91 for the AS-20 and 0.89 for the ASQE; and for the subscales, the a value ranged from 0.68 to 0.90. Conclusion: This was the first cross-sectional study to compare the psychometric properties of two strabismustargeted questionnaires, AS-20 and ASQE in the context of Chinese culture. Both AS-20 and ASQE showed satisfactory and comparable properties for measuring HRQoL in strabismus patients.