[Development of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 Chinese version (SNOT-20 CV)]

To develop the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 Chinese Version (SNOT-20 CV).

By introducing, translating, pretesting, adjusting, and performance testing of SNOT-20 inventory, a Chinese draft scale came into being. On the basis of the clinical applications and feedbacks from ten domestic hospitals, the scale was further modified and was more strictly tested in sixty patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and then its psychometric properties were compared with that of the original edition.

The SNOT-20 CV showed the following psychometric properties: The scale was easily accepted and answered in patients, showing a satisfactory feasibility. The split-half reliability, Cronbach' alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient were 0.95, 0.88, and 0.98, respectively. The content validity was approved by experts of working group. The criteria validity calculated between SNOT-20 and SF-36 was -0.67. Factor analysis of construct validity showed that the comparative fit index was 0.93 and the 20 items were classified into 4 domains which were accorded with the designed constructs. The category rating system was of reasonable additivity and comparability. Every domain was of sensitivity to effectively discriminate between patient population and healthy population (P < 0.01). The standardized response mean of twenty items and five important items at three months postoperatively was respectively 0.48 and 0.57, suggesting moderate responsibility to clinical change. SNOT-20 CV passed the tests of feasibility, reliability, validity, scalability, sensitivity, and responsibility, showing good properties comparable to that of the original edition.

SNOT-20 CV passes the psychometric and clinimetric tests and can be used for measuring rhinosinusitis-specific quality of life in China.