Italian Version of the Laval Questionnaire: Validity and Reliability

Background and Scope: Morbid obesity is complicated by the presence of depression and poor quality of life. Bariatric surgery aims at improving quality of life of obese persons, as well as reducing mortality and medical risk factors. Quality of life assessment is important in clinical care planning, as well as in the evaluation of surgical outcomes. The Laval questionnaire has been specifically developed for patients with morbid obesity, but has never been validated into Italian; we aimed to produce an Italian version, in a population of patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. Methods: We conducted a multicenter observational study on a nonrandomized sample of patients (age 19-65 years), with morbid obesity and body mass index (BMI) degrees 35, candidates for bariatric surgery (gastric banding or gastric bypass). Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis were used to assess internal consistency and structure. Results: One hundred sixty-three patients were enrolled, mean BMI of 42.8 +/- 7.5 kg/m(2) (range 31-70). Excellent consistency (alpha >0.90) and concurrent validity with the Obesity-related Well Being Scale (ORWELL's) questionnaire (rho=-0.78, p < 0.001). Factor analysis confirmed the six domains of the scale, all with good factor loadings (>0.75). Conclusion: In conclusion, we can state that the Italian version of the Laval questionnaire is valid and reliable for assessing quality of life in patients waiting for bariatric surgery.