Validation of the Chinese version OSA-18 quality of life questionnaire in Taiwanese children with obstructive sleep apnea

Background/PurposeThe OSA-18 questionnaire is one of the most widely-used sleep quality measurements in children. We tested the applicability and cross-cultural validation of the traditional Chinese version OSA-18 questionnaire.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary medical referral center. The translation and cultural adaptation of the OSA-18 questionnaire were performed based on Brislin's revised model. A total of 109 children aged 2–18 years old with sleep problems were recruited. Overnight polysomnography and the OSA-18 questionnaire were administered. The reliability and validity of the traditional Chinese version of OSA-18 questionnaire were verified.ResultsExcellent test–retest reliability and good internal consistency were achieved, and the validity of OSA-18 with overnight polysomnography was confirmed. The domain of sleep disturbance, daytime function, caregiver concerns, and the OSA-18 total scores were significantly higher in sleep apnea patients. The domain of caregiver concern had the highest score, while those of emotional distress had the lowest scores. The optimal cut-off point of the OSA-18 total scores for detecting obstructive sleep apnea was 67.ConclusionThe traditional Chinese version of OSA-18 demonstrated high reliability and good validity in our study. The domain of caregiver concern is the major element in Taiwanese children with sleep-disordered breathing.