Validation in Swedish of Sydney Swallow Questionnaire

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire to Swedish conditions and to evaluate the validity and test-retest reliability of the Swedish translation in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia and in healthy controls. Methods: The validation included 20 patients with swallowing problems and 20 controls matched in age and sex. Patients were assigned a Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale. Content, construct, discriminant and predictive validity and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Results: The Swedish version of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire was close to the original version, easy to fill in, and well accepted. The form fulfilled the criteria for content, construct, discriminant and predictive validity and test-retest reliability. Conclusions: The Swedish translation of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire proved to be a valid instrument to assess dysphagia symptoms and could be used in clinical settings.