The Persian Syncope Functional Status Questionnaire: A Validity and Reliability Study

Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness, with vasovagal syncope (VVS) being the most common cause. Although VVS episodes are typically self-limiting, they can significantly impact patients' quality of life. The syncope functional status questionnaire (SFSQ) is an internationally standardized tool designed to assess two major health dimensions: the physical and psychosocial domains. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the SFSQ into Persian and assess its validity and reliability.

This study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, between October 2022 and January 2023. It consisted of three phases: first, the translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire into Persian; second, an assessment of the comprehensibility of the pre-final version through a pilot study involving 50 individuals; and third, an evaluation of the reliability and validity of the final translated version. We assessed test-retest reliability, content validity, and convergent validity by examining the correlations between the dimensions of the translated SFSQ and other relevant measures.

Among 50 patients, 26 were women, and 24 were men. The mean age of the participants was 26.5±5.5 years. Test-retest reliability was good, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84. Both face validity and content validity index (CVI) were deemed acceptable, with a misunderstanding index of 18% (below the 20% significance threshold) and a CVI of 92% (above the 88% significance threshold for all questions).

The Persian version of the SFSQ was found to be a reliable and valid tool for data collection in patients with syncope. This instrument represents a significant step toward standardizing syncope-related research.