Objective: Morbid obesity is often complicated by the presence of depression and poor quality of life. Bariatric surgery aims at improving quality of life of persons with obesity, 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: multicentric observational study on a non-randomized sample of patients aged between 19 and 65 years, with morbid obesity and BMI ≥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: 163 patients enrolled, mean BMI of 42.8±7.5 kg/m2 (range 31-70). Excellent consistency (alpha>.90) and concurrent validity with the Orwell's questionnaire (rho=-.78, p<.001). Factor analysis confirmed the six domains of the scale, all with good factor loadings (>.75). Conclusions: the Italian version of the Laval questionnaire is valid and reliable for assessing quality of life in patients waiting for bariatric surgery. BACKGROUND Since the Seventies, the increase in chronic diseases incidence rates has been leading to the awareness that rarely are they curable (Pristed, Omar, & Kroustrup, 2012). For this reason, attention has been shifting from "quantity" of life, expressed in terms of longevity, to quality of life. (Barcaccia et al., 2013) In 1995, the World Health Organization defined quality of life as the "individuals' perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns"; ("The World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL)," 1995) therefore, it is a dynamic, complex and highly subjective concept, with both positive and negative aspects and includes physical, psychological and social dimensions, expression of one's health. (Stolzenberger,
Background and Scope: Obesity represents a public health concern worldwide; it is associated with a high mortality risk and impairment in quality of life (QoL). Relationship between weight loss and QoL improvements was highlighted by several studies. This article aims to summarize the literature investigating QoL among obese persons. Attention will be paid to studies assessing QoL among obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery before and after surgical treatment and to the related measurement instruments. Methods: A literature review was conducted on the major biomedical databases. Results: Compared with general population, persons with obesity report lower QoL levels in most life domains. The global QoL improvement reported in all domains after bariatric surgery can be related to weight loss and its long-term stability. Although several tools were developed to assess QoL in obese persons, they are not suited to capture the needs of people with obesity. The promising results obtained through the Laval Questionnaire suggest the importance of expanding this research domain, to identify the best assessment tools for use in clinical practice. Conclusion: The longitudinal assessment of the different QoL components can be useful to monitor the changes induced by the treatment over time.
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