Article Type
Article
Abstract
Background: The University of Pennsylvania smell identification test (UPSIT) is the most widely used test in the world. However, identification of the odorants can be affected significantly by the cultural background. Presently modified versions of UPSIT are available in more than 12 languages.
Objective: This study was designed to determine whether the Arabic version of the UPSIT is effective and applicable for the Saudi population.
Participants and methods: Overall, 80 healthy volunteers (20 from each of the four regions of Saudi Arabia) between 19 and 50 years of age were selected. Exclusion criteria included any history of smell impairment, otolaryngology diseases that may impair olfaction, previous nasal or skull base surgery, smoking, any neurological diseases, or head trauma. The Arabic version of the UPSIT was administered and the test was scored.
Result: The mean score among the Saudi volunteers was 28.42±4.4; this is below what is considered normal for the North American population. Women scored significantly better than men (P=0.02). The scores across the four regions of Saudi Arabia were not significantly different (P=0.77). Fourteen odors were correctly identified by less than 70% of the volunteers in the study.
Conclusion: The average score of Arabic-UPSIT for healthy Saudi volunteers was far below the average score of the original English version. The lower average score and the high percentage of wrong identification of odors indicate that the current version of the Arabic-UPSIT is not a suitable test for the Saudi population.
A larger study after changing few odors will provide more insight.
Keywords: odor, odor identification, olfaction, smell, University of Pennsylvania smell identification test.
Recommended Citation
Albaharna H, Almubaireek H, Upadhyay S,
et al.
Validity of the Arabic version of the University of Pennsylvania smell test on a Saudi population.
Pan Arab J. Rhinol.
2017;
7 : -.
Available at:
https://pajr.researchcommons.org/journal/vol7/iss1/2
