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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print 1 citation

PubMed: 42473734 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.70401

The Development of the European Sleep Questionnaire A New Patient-Reported Outcome Measure.

J Sleep Res

Authors: Dirk A Pevernagie, Marie De Bruecker, Elke Veirman, Geert Crombez, Dimitri M L Van Ryckeghem, Katrien Hertegonne, Fré A Bauters, Inger L Abma, Erna Sif Arnardottir, Ludger Grote, Jan Hedner, Anna Sigridur Islind, Kamilla Rún Jóhannsdóttir, Gert Jan Lammers, Walter T McNicholas, Piet-Heijn van Mechelen, Kristín Anna Ólafsdóttir, Sebastiaan Overeem, Dieter Riemann, Reijo Sund, An Mariman

Affiliations

  • Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
  • Department of Respiratory Medicine, AZ Delta, Roeselare, Belgium.
  • Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
  • Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
  • Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Section Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
  • Department of IQ Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
  • Reykjavik University Sleep Institute, School of Technology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland.
  • Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Pulmonary Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Department of Computer Science, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland.
  • Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland.
  • Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
  • Sleep Wake Centre, Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital Group, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
  • Past President of the Dutch Sleep Apnea Patient Association, the Netherlands.
  • Sleep Medicine Center Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, AZ, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
  • German Sleep Society (DGSM e.V.), Jena, Germany.
  • Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Clinical Research Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
  • Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Integrative Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
  • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Centre for Integrative Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.

Abstract

Sleep medicine relies on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to complement clinical interviews and objective sleep tests. Available sleep questionnaires focus on isolated symptoms or single disorders, limiting their ability to capture the complexity of sleep conditions. Also, many PROMs remain poorly validated. The European Sleep Questionnaire (ESQ) is being developed as a generic transdiagnostic sleep PROM designed to address these limitations. By integrating relevant interview components, it aims to streamline clinical assessment and better reflect real-world phenotypes across the full spectrum of sleep disorders. The ESQ has been initiated within the EU-funded Sleep Revolution project and is still being developed through an iterative process. Its design is informed by a comprehensive literature review as well as expert and patient input. The ESQ prototype contains 119 items organized into nine sections and uses Likert-type scales to assess symptom severity, frequency, and bothersomeness over the past month. It is equipped with an additional module for follow-up assessment. It is translated into 17 languages and is digitally implemented to support multicenter studies. Initial validation includes cognitive interviews and evaluation of psychometric properties in patients with various sleep disorders. Item refinement and scoring key creation will guide the further development of the ESQ, after which it will be made available for public use. The ESQ aims to support personalized clinical diagnosis and appraisal of treatment results. Future research will extend into other sleep disorders and specific populations, strengthening the ESQ as a comprehensive tool for clinical practice, research, and preventive strategies.

MeSH

Sleep, Wakefulness, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Research, Sleep Wake Disorders