FACE-Q eye module for measuring patient-reported outcomes in blepharoplasty surgery: A validation study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Plastic Surgery
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial for evaluating surgical success.
• The FACE-Q Eye Module assesses patient perspectives on aesthetic and functional outcomes.
• Linguistic validation is essential for cross-cultural application of PROMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To linguistically validate the FACE-Q Eye Module scales in German.
• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the German version in blepharoplasty patients.
• To assess the tool's utility in measuring outcomes like satisfaction and well-being.

Main Methods:

• Translation of FACE-Q Eye Module from English to German following international guidelines.
• Psychometric testing administered to patients with and without blepharoplasty history, and control subjects.
• Analysis of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients).

Main Results:

• Most subscales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.75–0.97).
• High intraclass correlation coefficients (0.70–0.92) indicated good reliability.
• The German version showed good discriminability between patient groups and controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The German FACE-Q Eye Module is a validated and effective tool for assessing outcomes after blepharoplasty.
• The tool accurately measures patient satisfaction, psychological well-being, and functional recovery.
• This validated instrument supports outcome assessment in German-speaking populations undergoing eyelid surgery.