Chenar Yasin Aziz; Ari Rahim Zangana; Hemin Othman Sharif
Abstract
Nasal obstruction can negatively impact the quality of life (QOL). The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale is a validated tool for assessing nasal obstruction symptoms. ...
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Nasal obstruction can negatively impact the quality of life (QOL). The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale is a validated tool for assessing nasal obstruction symptoms. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate the NOSE questionnaire in Kurdish for patients undergoing nasal surgery in Iraq. This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2022 to January 2023 at a publicly funded medical center located in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Using forward-backward translation, the NOSE questionnaire was translated into Kurdish. Psychometric evaluation was conducted in 136 patients who underwent rhinoplasty or septoplasty. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were used to evaluate reliability. Responsiveness was determined by comparing pre-and post-operative scores. Cronbach’s alpha for the NOSE-K total score was 0.9999, indicating excellent consistency. In the test-retest reliability assessment, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC; 0.9999, 95%CI: 0.9999-0.9999) and Kappa (0.995; 95% CI, 0.993-0.997) demonstrated excellent reliability. The validity of Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC; 0.9999, 95%CI: 0.9998 to 0.9999) of the NOSE-K total score showed a strong correlation and concordance between the two measures, respectively. No ceiling or floor effects were observed (0%). The effect Size (ES) and Standardized Response Mean (SRM) of the NOSE-K total score were -0.003 (95%CI: -0.005 to -0.001) and -0.165 (95%CI: -0.246 to -0.079), respectively. The current study shows that the NOSE-K is a reliable and valid tool for assessing patients with septum-related symptoms. Concerning NOSE-K's strong validity, good internal consistency, repeatability, and reliability, its use is advised.
