Abstract

Volume.116 Number.5

Original article : Clinical science

A Quality of Life Questionnaire for Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Disease
Kazumi Fukagawa1,2, Hiroshi Fujishima2,3, Atsuki Fukushima4, Tamaki Sumi4, Shigeki Okamoto5, Jun Shoji6, Yoshiyuki Satake7, Shigeaki Ohno8, Kenichi Namba9, Nobuyoshi Kitaichi9, Nobuyuki Ebihara10, Hiroshi Takahashi11, Naoki Kumagai12, Yuichi Uchino2,13, Miki Uchino1,2, Koichi Murayama1, Miki Sakata14, Eiichi Uchio15, Etsuko Takamura16, Yuichi Ohashi17, Kimihiro Ohkubo18, Toshihiko Satoh19
1 Ryogoku Eye Clinic
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Tsurumi University Dental Hospital
4 Department of Ophthalmology, Kochi University School of Medicine
5 Okamoto Eye Clinic
6 Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Visual Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine
7 Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichilkawa General Hospital
8 Department of Ocular Inflammation and Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine
9 Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine
10 Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
11 Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School
12 Kumagai Eye Clinic
13 Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Electric Power Company Hospital
14 Wakita Eye Clinic
15 Department of Ophthalmology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine
16 Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, School of Medicine
17 Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University School of Medicine
18 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nippon Medical School
19 Clinical Research Center, Kitasato University, School of Medicine

Purpose: To establish a specific quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for Japanese allergic conjunctival disease (ACD) (Japanese allergic conjunctival disease QOL questionnaire: JACQLQ).
Subjects and methods: A multicenter study was conducted in 521 patients with ACD and 127 healthy volunteers (total 648 cases). The JACQLQ ver.0 was developed by modifying the Japanese rhino-conjunctivitis QOL questionnaire (JRQLQ). The participants were asked to complete the questionnaire, and objective scores were determined by an ophthalmologist using a slit lamp. To confirm validity, item and factor analyses were conducted and correlation coefficients were calculated.
Results: The items were grouped into four subscales (Daily activity, Psychological well-being, Eye symptoms, Nasal symptoms) after factor analysis. The JACQLQ had good item-internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.846-0.934). QOL scores were correlated with eye itching, eye irritation and tearing. Objective scores were correlated with eye redness, eye itching and eye irritation. Face scores were correlated with eye itching, eye irritation and eye redness.
Conclusion: The JACQLQ is a useful tool for assessing disease specific QOL in ACD.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 116: 494-502, 2012.

Key words
Allergic conjunctival diseases, Quality of life (QOL), Disease specific QOL questionnaire, Japanese allergic conjunctival disease QOL questionnaire (JACQLQ)
Reprint requests to
Kazumi Fukagawa, M.D. Ryogoku Eye Clinic. 4-33-12 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0026, Japan