Italian translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Mayo Clinic Vestibular Schwannoma Quality of Life (VSQOL) Index

Background. The Mayo Clinic Vestibular Schwannoma Quality of Life (VSQOL) Index is a disease-specific instrument for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS). To date, there is no validated Italian version of this questionnaire. Objectives. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the VSQOL Index Version 2 in Italian (Italian VSQOL Index) while assessing its psychometric properties. Methods. The VSQOL Index Version 2 was translated and culturally adapted according to the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) methodology. A cohort of 39 Italian-speaking VS patients completed the Italian VSQOL Index alongside the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) Scale, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the 21-Item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and construct validity were analysed. Results. The Italian VSQOL Index demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.89 to 0.95 across its domains, and high test-retest reliability, indicated by an ICC ranging from 0.78 to 0.92 among the domains. Significant correlations with PANQOL, SF-36, and DASS-21 scores confirmed convergent validity. Patients received the questionnaire positively, with no major comprehension issues reported during cognitive debriefing. Conclusions. The Italian VSQOL Index is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing HRQoL in Italian-speaking VS patients. Its application in clinical practice and research will enhance the evaluation of disease impact and treatment outcomes within this population.