Psychometric evaluation of the SinoNasal Outcome Test-16 for quality of life in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Objectives: In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), SinoNasal Outcome Test-16 (SNOT-16) is a specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, validated in English and existing in a French translation. The present study assessed the psychometric characteristics of the French translation in nasal polyposis (NP). Methods: The QoL of 40 NP patients was assessed before and after endoscopic ethmoidectomy, with the generic Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the specific SNOT-16 questionnaires. Results: SF-36 scores were improved 1 year postoperatively. The SNOT-16 Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.81. In the preoperative course, SNOT-16 scores correlated with the mental composite score ([MCS]: P = 0.034; rho =-0.36) and the role-physical ([RP]: P = 0.02; rho = -0.39), vitality ([VT]: P = 0.008; rho =-0.44) and role-emotional ([RE]: P = 0.035; rho =-0.36) dimensions of the SF-36. SNOT-16 scores were poorer in women (P = 0.03) and in case of aspirin intolerance (P = 0.044). SNOT-16 scores were significantly lower 1 year after surgery (P = 0.0017). Conclusion: The SNOT-16 seemed, in the present series, to be a reliable, valid and sensitive questionnaire. Validation on a larger series could enable its use in the French NP population to assess the precise effectiveness of therapeutic strategies. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.