A new health-related quality of life measure for active chronic otitis media (COMQ-12): development and initial validation

Abstract

Objective: To develop and document for clinical use a new HRQoL questionnaire for the assessment of active chronic otitis media.

Study design: Two-center prospective correlational study.

Setting: Two otology referral centers in England.

Patients: Fifty consecutive adult patients with a history of active chronic otitis media.

Results: Consistency criteria (Cronbach's alpha) and first principle component loadings showed satisfactory scoring with 11 of the original 12 items. A single factor was obtained correlating highly with simple unweighted scoring.

Conclusion: Sufficient consistency and initial validity information was obtained from patients with a history of active chronic otitis media to justify clinical use of the reduced item set and acquisition of further data to refine scoring.