Validity, Responsiveness, and Reliability of the ACL-QOL in an Adolescent Population

Description

In this recorded presentation, Meaghan Marien, the current Banff Sports Medicine Fellow, discusses her research on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACL-QOL) in adolescents. The study aims to evaluate the validity, responsiveness, reliability, and readability of the ACL-QOL, which was originally developed in 1995 for assessing quality of life in patients with ACL injuries and surgeries, predominantly focusing on adults. Marien highlights the gap in research concerning adolescents, noting that many orthopedic assessments are tailored to adults and may not effectively serve younger patients.



The presentation outlines the study's methodology, including the recruitment of 295 adolescent patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between 2010 and 2015, with questionnaires completed preoperatively and at various intervals post-surgery. Employing various statistical analyses, the study found robust psychometric properties for the ACL-QOL: high reliability (Cronbach's alpha from 0.93 to 0.97), significant responsiveness to changes over time, and a readability score suitable for a 6th-grade reading level. However, Marien identifies limitations in the questionnaire, such as questions addressing work-related issues that may not be relevant to adolescents, suggesting modifications for increased inclusivity and comprehensibility.



The results support the use of the ACL-QOL as a disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure for adolescents, while also calling for future research to enhance its applicability and generalizability for this age group. Ultimately, Marien concludes the presentation by inviting questions from the audience.

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