An Important Tool in Lymphedema Management: Validation of Turkish Version of the Patient Benefit Index-Lymphedema

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the Turkish adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Patient Benefit Index-Lymphedema (PBI-L) ensuring direct assessment of the benefit in patients with lymphedema (LE), lipedema, and lipolymphedema. Methods and Results: Eighty-one patients who were consulted for physiotherapy, whose diagnoses were LE, lipedema, and lipolymphedema, and who were treated or planned to be treated for these diagnoses, were included in this study. PBI-L was adapted to Turkish by considering the stages of the cultural adaptation process. Short Form-36 (SF-36) was applied for the validity of PBI-L. PBI-L was repeated after a 1-week interval for test-retest reliability. The mean age was 47.66 ± 14.23 years. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value was determined as 0.73 (p < 0.0001) for the total score. There was a moderate correlation between first (ICC = 0.63, p < 0.0001) and second subdimensions (ICC = 0.62, p < 0.0001). Cronbach's α values ranged between 0.83 and 0.89. Low correlations were found between total scores of PBI-L and mental health, physical function subdimensions of SF-36 (p < 0.05). The Kaiser Meyer Olkin value was 0.6, and it was found that the PBI-L was not consistent with factor analysis. Conclusion: The Turkish version of PBI-L is a valid and reliable tool in patients with LE, lipedema, and lipolymphedema. However, the reassessment validity of PBI-L would be suggested by using an LE-specific quality of life questionnaire.