Moroccan Arabic version of the Quality of Life Inventory in Epilepsy

Background: There is currently a growing concern to conduct health-related quality of life (HRQOL) studies among people with epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries, as most data have been derived from high-income countries in North America and Europe. Aims: To translate, adapt and validate the Moroccan Arabic version of the QOL Inventory in Epilepsy-31 (MA-QOLIE-31) to evaluate HRQOL predictors in the Moroccan population with epilepsy. Methods: Adaptation and validation of QOLIE-31 were performed in July 2018 among 118 patients with epilepsy in the Fez-Meknes region. The test was translated, adapted and validated into Arabic according to the Streiner & Norman recommendations. Acceptability, reliability, central tendency and validity of the QOLIE-31 were assessed. Results: The acceptability and reproducibility were satisfactory and the internal consistency was strong (Cronbach [alpha] = 0.993). The mean (standard deviation) global score of QOL in the MA-QOLIE-31 was 68 (22.16). The scores in the subscales were 51 (36.88) for seizures worry, 48.86 (25.44) for overall QOL, 45.60 (26.73) for well-being, 41.28 (25.37) for energy and fatigue, 47.55 (28.33) for cognitive function, 66.83 (39.49) for medication effects and 52.44 (30.26) for social functioning. Conclusions: The global score of QOL in Moroccan patients with epilepsy is similar to that in patients in low and middle-income countries. MA-QOLIE-31 will facilitate further studies in HRQOL in Morocco and Arabic-speaking countries. Keywords: cultural adaptation, epilepsy, Morocco, quality of life, QOLIE-31.