Effect of atrial fibrillation on quality of life (AFEQT) questionnaire: A Turkish validity and reliability study

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the atrial fibrillation effect on quality of life (AFEQT) questionnaire and evaluate the quality of life of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS
This was a methodological study that included 204 patients with AF over the age of 18 who participated voluntarily in the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, the AFEQT questionnaire, and the University of Toronto atrial fibrillation severity scale (AFSS). The AFEQT questionnaire was translated into Turkish and presented to an expert panel, after which a pilot study was carried out with 20 patients for linguistic equivalence and cultural adaptation. The reliability of the AFEQT questionnaire was determined using Cronbach’s alpha and item-total correlation coefficient analyses.

RESULTS
The Cronbach’s alpha value was found to be 0.91, and the scale and subscale item-total correlation values ranged from 0.36 to 0.91. The validity of the AFEQT questionnaire was determined by construct, concurrent, and discriminant validity analyses. The factor loads of the AFEQT questionnaire ranged from 0.37 to 0.94 and the ratio was χ2/df=2.43 in the confirmatory factor analysis. A negative and highly significant relationship was found in concurrent validity between the AFEQT questionnaire and the AFSS. When AF risk factors were compared with the AFEQT questionnaire, it showed that AF-related risk factors negatively affected patients’ quality of life. The AFEQT questionnaire was suitable in terms of discriminant validity.

CONCLUSION
The Turkish AFEQT questionnaire was found to be reliable and valid; therefore, we recommend its use to evaluate the quality of life of patients with AF.