Danish translation and validation of the Parotidectomy Outcome Inventory 8

INTRODUCTION: Complications and recurrence within benign salivary gland surgery are not systematically registered in Denmark. Patient-reported outcome measures are increasingly included in clinical and health policy decision-making, and therefore it is crucial that this type of data is valid. A patient-reported questionnaire regarding outcome after benign parotid gland surgery has been developed and implemented in a national German database. We aimed to translate the Parotidectomy Outcome Inventory 8 (POI-8) into Danish and validate it.

METHODS: The questionnaire was translated. The study population was recruited from a single centre from 6 December 2019 to 1 June 2022. Patients > 18 years of age who had undergone their first parotid salivary gland surgery for a benign tumour were included. The questionnaire underwent pilot-testing and test-retesting; it was sent to respondents twice at a 14-day interval. For the categorical variables, the reliability of the items was tested using the weighted kappa-coefficient.

RESULTS: A weighted kappa coefficient of 0.74 and Cronbach's alpha of 0.78 were found. No significant difference was found between testing at day 0 and 14.

CONCLUSIONS: We have translated and validated the Danish version of the POI-8, finding acceptable levels of the weighted kappa coefficient and Cronbach's alpha. We suggest the systematic use of PROMs in Danish healthcare and specifically in parotidectomy for benign neoplasms.

FUNDING: No funding.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.