Validation of the Swedish Wound-QOL-14: A Shortened Version of the Original 17-Item Wound-Specific Quality of Life Instrument.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly recognized as a key outcome in the management of patients with hard-to-heal wounds. To assess this outcome accurately, valid wound-specific patient-reported outcome measures are required. The Wound-QoL was originally developed as a 17-item questionnaire, and a revised 14-item version, consisting of 14 of the original 17 items, was later introduced to improve clarity and reduce respondent burden. Because changes in item composition may affect psychometric properties, the revised version requires separate evaluation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Swedish Wound-QoL-14 using data from the Swedish validation study of the Wound-QoL-17. This secondary analysis included data from 88 patients with hard-to-heal wounds recruited from an outpatient wound clinic. Responses from the original instrument were recalculated to reflect the Wound-QoL-14 structure. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients, criterion validity by comparison with EQ-5D-3L, responsiveness using standardized response mean, and ceiling and floor effects were examined. The Wound-QoL-14 demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Criterion validity showed moderate correlations with EQ-5D-3L, responsiveness was moderate for Body and Psyche and smaller for Everyday Life and the global score, and no ceiling or floor effects were observed. The Swedish Wound-QoL-14 is a reliable, valid, and practical instrument for assessing HRQoL in patients with hard-to-heal wounds in clinical practice and research.