Cross-cultural adaptation and Italian validation of chronic otitis media outcome test 15 (COMOT-15)

• Published in: Acta otorhino-laryngologica italica Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 277 - 281
• Main Authors: Cavaliere, Michele, Capriglione, Pasquale, Cavaliere, Flavia, De Corso, Eugenio, Zanoletti, Elisabetta, Motta, Gaetano, Iengo, Maurizio, Cantone, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Pacini Editore Srl 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Cross-Cultural Comparison; Humans; Italy; Otitis Media; Otology; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Italy; ear discharge; chronic otitis; hearing loss; COMOT 15; QoL
• ISSN: 1827-675X; 0392-100X; 1827-675X
• DOI: 10.14639/0392-100X-N1184

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) may result in a serious impairment of the quality of life (QoL). The most relevant characteristics of CSOM are well represented in the "Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15" questionnaire (COMOT-15). The aim of the study was to translate and adapt the COMOT-15 questionnaire into Italian. This is a prospective study conducted on 52 Caucasian Italian-speaking patients with CSOM and 52 controls. The linguistic adaptation of the COMOT-15 consisted of the translation of the English version into Italian and reliability assessment of the translation. Psychometric measurements included internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Cronbach's α was 0.95. The test-retest reliability showed a strong positive correlation for total score and all subscales. Age and gender had no influence on the scores. The correlation between the COMOT-15 and the pure tone average showed a significant association for the scale "Hearing Function". The Italian COMOT-15 questionnaire provides good internal consistency and is suitable for QoL evaluation in Italian-speaking patients suffering from CSOM. In addition, it is able to evaluate the subjective symptoms perceived by patients.