Psychometric evaluation of the SinoNasal Outcome Test-16 for quality of life in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

SummaryObjectivesIn chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), SinoNasal Outcome Test-16 (SNOT-16) is a specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, validated in English and existing in a French translation. The present study assessed the psychometric characteristics of the French translation in nasal polyposis (NP).MethodsThe QoL of 40 NP patients was assessed before and after endoscopic ethmoidectomy, with the generic Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the specific SNOT-16 questionnaires.ResultsSF-36 scores were improved 1 year postoperatively. The SNOT-16 Cronbach α coefficient was 0.81. In the preoperative course, SNOT-16 scores correlated with the mental composite score ([MCS]: P = 0.034; rho = −0.36) and the role-physical ([RP]: P = 0.02; rho = −0.39), vitality ([VT]: P = 0.008; rho = −0.44) and role-emotional ([RE]: P = 0.035; rho = −0.36) dimensions of the SF-36. SNOT-16 scores were poorer in women (P = 0.03) and in case of aspirin intolerance (P = 0.044). SNOT-16 scores were significantly lower 1 year after surgery (P = 0.0017).ConclusionThe SNOT-16 seemed, in the present series, to be a reliable, valid and sensitive questionnaire. Validation on a larger series could enable its use in the French NP population to assess the precise effectiveness of therapeutic strategies.