# Translation and validation of the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale (M-NOSE)

## TL;DR

This study translated and validated a Malay version of the NOSE questionnaire to assess nasal obstruction symptoms in patients and controls.

## Contribution

The study provides a validated Malay version of the NOSE scale (M-NOSE) for assessing nasal obstruction in Malay-speaking populations.

## Key findings

- M-NOSE showed significant differences between patients and controls for all items and total score.
- M-NOSE demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.81) and strong correlations between items and total score.
- The questionnaire showed good responsiveness with a large effect size (d = 4.91) for pre- and post-operative comparisons.

## Abstract

The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) is a questionnaire to assess patients with nasal obstruction. The aim of this study was to translate and validate NOSE to the Malay version NOSE (M-NOSE).

The NOSE questionnaire was translated to Malay language and back to English. Psychometric properties consisting of reliability, reproducibility, validity, responsiveness were appraised in patients with nasal obstruction due to deviated nasal septum and healthy asymptomatic controls.

A total of 126 participants were recruited. There was significant difference between patients and controls for all items and the total score (all p < 0.001). The correlation was moderate to strong between all items and total score (r = 0.71 to 0.8) and fair to moderate for the inter-items correlations (r= 0.31 to 0.70). Internal consistency for M-NOSE was good (α = 0.81). The test–retest for each item demonstrated no significant difference. There was significant difference of the pre- and post-operative mean for each item and total score (all p < 0.001) with good response sensitivity (effect size, d = 4.91).

The M-NOSE has satisfactory reliability, internal consistency, reproducibility and responsiveness. It is a valid and convenient tool in the assessment of the impact and treatment outcome of nasal obstruction.