The Persian Syncope Functional Status Questionnaire: A Validity and Reliability Study.

Abstract

Background: Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness, with vasovagal syncope (VVS) being the most common cause. Although VVS episodes are typically self-limiting, they can significantly impact patients' quality of life. The syncope functional status questionnaire (SFSQ) is an internationally standardized tool designed to assess two major health dimensions: the physical and psychosocial domains. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the SFSQ into Persian and assess its validity and reliability.

Methods: This study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, between October 2022 and January 2023. It consisted of three phases: first, the translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire into Persian; second, an assessment of the comprehensibility of the pre-final version through a pilot study involving 50 individuals; and third, an evaluation of the reliability and validity of the final translated version. We assessed test-retest reliability, content validity, and convergent validity by examining the correlations between the dimensions of the translated SFSQ and other relevant measures.

Results: Among 50 patients, 26 were women, and 24 were men. The mean age of the participants was 26.5±5.5 years. Test-retest reliability was good, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84. Both face validity and content validity index (CVI) were deemed acceptable, with a misunderstanding index of 18% (below the 20% significance threshold) and a CVI of 92% (above the 88% significance threshold for all questions).

Conclusion: The Persian version of the SFSQ was found to be a reliable and valid tool for data collection in patients with syncope. This instrument represents a significant step toward standardizing syncope-related research.