Variability and reliability of the French version of the Quality of Recovery-40 Questionnaire (QoR-40)

Introduction: The quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) is a 40-item questionnaire. It is widely used and validated in English language for non-major surgery. Its objective is to collect information about quality of recovery in the postoperative period. However, a French version of the QoR-40 has not yet been established. The objective of this study was to develop a French version of QoR-40.

Patients and methods: The translation procedure was established according to Beaton's recommendations to create a French version of QoR-40. One hundred and eighty-one patients were enrolled, and each completed the questionnaire the day after surgery, and 6 h later, and 15 days later. The QoR-40 was compared to morphine consumption in recovery room, and to visual analogue scale. The method of validation for QoR-40 included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, effect size and level of responsiveness.

Results: Ninety nine per cent of patients answered the full questionnaire at day one. Cronbach's alpha for the global QoR-40 at day one was 0.83. For the total QR40 total score, Lin's concordance coefficient was 0.78 (95% CI [0.70; 0.86]). The sensitivity to change was determined in 39 patients for an effect-size equals 0.56 (95% CI [0.11; 1.02]).

Conclusion: The French version of QoR-40 seems to be valid, reliable, and acceptable as the original English version.