Turkish translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22

Abstract

Objective: In this prospective case-control study, we aimed to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 in the Turkish language. Methods: Validation of the Turkish questionnaire included translation of original SNOT-22 items from English to Turkish by two independent native Turkish translators, and retranslation back from Turkish to English by two other native English translators. The testretest reliability was carried out in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). SNOT-22 questionnaire was applied twice by two different physicians. Results: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.88 and 0.90 at test and retest examinations, respectively, suggesting good internal consistency within the SNOT-22 questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.97, revealing excellent correlation in repeated examinations. Mean of kappa values evaluated for individual items was 0.83, indicating a high level of reproducibility. The comparison of mean SNOT-22 scores of healthy individuals with those of patient group indicated statistically significant difference between the two groups, proving the validity of SNOT-22 in Turkish in differentiating between healthy individuals and patients with CRS. The statistically significant reduction in the postoperative and preoperative mean SNOT-22 scores demonstrated the responsiveness of the instrument. Conclusion: The results indicated that the Turkish version of the SNOT-22 is a valid instrument with good internal consistency, excellent reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness for assessing patients with CRS.