Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) in aged-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. Design Diagnostic test. Participants A total of 107 AMD patients and 69 controls were included. Methods The health risk factors questionnaire and the Chinese version of NEI VFQ-25 were used to examine the baseline characteristics and vision-related quality of life, respectively. According to the scores of subjects, the internal consistency reliability, split-half reliability, construct validity and discriminant validity were carried out to evaluate the validity of the questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures Reliability and validity. Results The reliability of the questionnaire was good, and the Cronbach’ alpha coefficient and Spearman-Brown split-half coefficient were 0.827 and 0.772, respectively. Three common factors were extracted from 12 dimensionality by principal component analysis and the accumulated variance rate of contribution was 65.35%, suggesting a good construct validity. The discriminant validity test results between the AMD and control group were statistically significant in all the subscales of NEI VFQ-25 (P<0.05), indicating a good discriminant validity of the questionnaire. Conclusion The Chinese version questionnaire of NEI VFQ-25 has good reliability and validity in evaluating the visual function damage for patients with AMD, which can be implemented as a good scale and evaluation tool for the life quality of those persons with AMD.

Key words: the National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire, aged-related macular degeneration, reliability, validity