A Cross-Cultural Validation of a Quality of Life Measure Using the Simple Measure of the Impact of Lupus Erythematosus in Youngsters (SMILEY © ) among Filipino Pediatric Lupus Patients

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common autoimmune disorders in women of childbearing age. Simple Measure of Impact of Lupus Erythematosus in Youngsters (SMILEY) is the only health related quality of life (HRQOL) tool for pediatric SLE, which has been translated into many languages but is not yet available in Filipino. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to develop a Filipino translation of the SMILEY and to test the validity and reliability of this translation. Methodology: The SMILEY was translated into Filipino by a bilingual individual and back-translated by another bilingual individual blinded from the original English version. The translation was evaluated for content validity by a panel of experts and subjected to pilot testing. In the pilot, the SMILEY, together with the previously validated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDSQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scale were administered to pediatric lupus patients and their parents on two separate occasions: a baseline and a re-test seven to fourteen days apart. Tests for convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were performed. Results: A total of fifty children and their parents were recruited. The mean age was 15.38±2.62 years (range 8-18 years), mean education level was high school. The mean duration of SLE was 28 months (range 1-81 months). Subjects found the questionnaires to be relevant, easy to understand and to answer. The validity of the SMILEY was demonstrated in terms of content validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Age, socioeconomic status and educational attainment did not significantly impact the scores. The difference between scores reported by children and parents was significant with SMILEY Total ( p=0.0214), effect on Social Life ( p=0.0000), and PEDSQL Physical Function ( p=0.0460), with children reporting higher scores for these domains compared to their parents. Conclusion: SMILEY is a brief, easy to understand, valid and reliable tool for assessing specific HRQOL in pediatric SLE. It will be useful in providing better care, understanding and may offer critical information regarding the effect of SLE in the quality of life of our pediatric lupus patients. It will help physician understands the needs of their patient not only on treatment of the specific disease but as well as the impact of the treatment on their daily lives.