Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Wound-QoL-17 and its short version, the Wound-QoL-14, measure health-related quality of life in patients with chronic wounds. This study assessed the content validity of this questionnaire. METHODOLOGY: We recruited adult patients with chronic wounds in outpatient and inpatient settings in Germany. We conducted semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Almost all of the 21 patients (mean age 63 years, n = 16 male) had leg ulcers (n = 11) or diabetic foot ulcers (n = 8). The analysis resulted in six main categories: items; relevance; comprehensibility; comprehensiveness; version Wound-QoL-17 vs. Wound-QoL-14; further aspects. Participants mostly understood the distinct items well and found them easy to answer and relevant to their situation. The overall questionnaire was mostly rated relevant, comprehensible and comprehensive, including instructions, response scale, and recall period. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the content validity of the Wound-QoL for patients with leg ulcers or diabetic foot ulcers and shows that it adequately reflects the construct of wound-specific quality of life. The Wound-QoL-17 should be used in clinical settings where differentiated assessment is appropriate. In research contexts where the calculation of scores is paramount, the Wound-QoL-14 should be used.