Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of Reflux Symptom Score

To evaluate the reliability, validity and clinical value of the Chinese version of reflux symptom score (RSS) (RSS in Chinese).

This was a prospective study that contained 42 healthy volunteers and 135 possible laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) patients. Reflux symptom index, reflux finding score, oropharyngeal pH monitoring (Dx-pH monitoring), and RSS of each patient were performed. RSS was performed again after 1 week. Confirmed LPRD patients were treated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for 8 weeks. And RSS was performed again after treatment. The reliability and validity of RSS was evaluated.

The Cronbach's α coefficient of the Chinese version of RSS was 0.772, which indicated good internal reliability. The results of test-retest found all P values were less than 0.05, which supported good external reliability. The comparison of the results of RSS with oropharyngeal pH monitoring discovered a diagnostic coincidence rate of 83.70% and a positive predictive value of 84.96%, which showed good criterion validity. After 8 weeks treatment of PPI, RSS decreased significantly (pretreatment 84.79 ± 42.50，post-treatment 20.11 ± 22.82, P < 0.001), indicating good responsiveness to change of RSS. The score of quality of life impact of suspected LPRD patients was obviously higher than that of healthy volunteers (t = 7.153, P < 0.001). All patients and volunteers agreed that RSS in Chinese can evaluate their symptoms well.

RSS in Chinese had good internal and external reliability, good criterion validity and good responsiveness to change. The content and method of evaluation of RSS in Chinese was better and more comprehensive. RSS in Chinese could be a new instrument to evaluate LPRD in China.