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Development and validation of the FR-QoL-29-Dutch (Flemish) Questionnaire and assessment of clinical factors associated with food-related quality of life in a Belgian inflammatory bowel disease population: a cross-sectional study

bmjgast · 2025-09-29 · canonical JSON source

10 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Objective Food-related quality of life (FR-QoL) is the psychosocial impact of food, nutrition, eating and drinking on QoL and can be profoundly affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to translate and validate the FR-QoL-29 Questionnaire in a Belgian IBD population and investigate associations with relevant clinical variables.Methods The English FR-QoL-29 was translated to Dutch using the forward–backward method. Consecutive patients with IBD attending the outpatient clinic in a university hospital in Belgium completed the FR-QoL-29 Dutch (Flemish), alongside questionnaires assessing disease severity and IBD-related disability. Clinical and biochemical data were collected. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with promax rotation assessed the underlying factor structure. Reliability measures (internal consistency, test–retest reliability) were evaluated. Pearson and Spearman correlations assessed relationships between FR-QoL-29 Score and continuous demographic and clinical variables, while categorical parameters were analysed using independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc tests.Results 301 patients were included, with 31 (10.3%) completing the retest. EFA revealed a one-factor structure explaining 55% of the variance. The FR-QoL-29-Dutch (Flemish) showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.97) and very good test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation=0.94). Lower FR-QoL-29 Score was associated with higher serum albumin levels, younger age, disease activity and IBD-related disability. FR-QoL-29 Score was lower in females, those with Crohn’s disease (CD), CD patients with a stricturing phenotype and those previously receiving IBD-related surgery.Conclusion The FR-QoL-29-Dutch (Flemish) is valid and reliable and correlates with disease activity and IBD-related disability. Patients with CD, stricturing disease and who previously underwent IBD-related surgery have a significantly lower FR-QoL and should be targeted for support.