Development and validation of Cedars-Sinai Health-Related Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis (CSHQ-RA) short form instrument

Measurement properties of rheumatoid arthritis-specific quality-of-life questionnaires: systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

This study conducted a systematic review of the methodological quality of the psychometric evaluation process and the quality of measurement properties of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) questionnaires with the purpose of obtaining the best evidence to help in the selection of the most appropriate instrument for measuring HRQOL in RA patients.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed to identify RA-specific HRQOL questionnaires in databases. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments checklist. The quality of the measurement properties was assessed using quality criteria. The evidence regarding the measurement properties was pooled using best-evidence synthesis, with considerations of the number and methodological quality of the studies, and the consistency of their findings in terms of the quality of the measurement properties.

RESULTS

The search identified 37 studies describing 9 instruments. Best-evidence synthesis suggested that the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) questionnaire had the strongest positive evidence, especially with respect to reliability, measurement error, and content validity, and moderate positive evidence with respect to hypothesis testing and responsiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence suggests that the best-validated instrument among the RA-specific HRQOL measures is the RAQoL questionnaire in terms of both methodological quality in the process of psychometric evaluation and the quality of the measurement properties. However, there is limited evidence regarding internal consistency and structural validity of the RAQoL. Further efforts are warranted to establish the psychometric quality of this questionnaire.

Multi-dimensional health assessment questionnaire in China: reliability, validity and clinical value in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical utility of Chinese Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ-C) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China.

METHODS

162 RA patients were recruited in the evaluation process. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested by internal consistency and item analysis. Convergent validity was assessed by correlations of MDHAQ-C with Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Hospital anxiety and depression scales (HAD). Discriminant validity was tested in groups of patients with varied disease activities and functional classes. To evaluate the clinical values, correlations were calculated between MDHAQ-C and indices of clinical relevance and disease activity. Agreement with the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was estimated.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's alpha was 0.944 in the Function scale (FN) and 0.768 in the scale of psychological status (PS). The item analysis indicated all the items of FN and PS are correlated at an acceptable level. MDHAQ-C correlated with the questionnaires significantly in most scales and scores of scales differed significantly in groups of different disease activity and functional status. MDHAQ-C has moderate to high correlation with most clinical indices and high correlation with a spearman coefficient of 0.701 for DAS 28 and 0.843 for CDAI. The overall agreement of categories was satisfying.

CONCLUSION

MDHAQ-C is a reliable, valid instrument for functional measurement and a feasible, informative quantitative index for busy clinical settings in Chinese RA patients.

Desenvolvimento e validação de uma versão reduzida do instrumento para avaliação da Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho de enfermeiros em hospitais

Este estudo tem como objetivos desenvolver a versão reduzida de um instrumento para avaliação da Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho (QVT) de enfermeiros hospitalares e analisar a sua confiabilidade e validade. O estudo foi desenvolvido com uma amostra probabilística de 348 enfermeiros selecionados em quatro hospitais da cidade de São Paulo. Os métodos clinimétrico e psicométrico foram utilizados no processo de redução de itens, obtendo-se um instrumento com 31 itens e quatro domínios: Valorização e reconhecimento institucional; Condições de trabalho, segurança e remuneração; Identidade e imagem profissional e Integração com a equipe. Na análise da consistência interna, obtiveram-se coeficientes alfa de Cronbach de 0,94 para o total de itens e de 0,77 a 0,92 para os domínios. Estes resultados e os obtidos nas análises de validade convergente, de critério e discriminante sugerem que o instrumento reduzido é adequado para a mensuração da QVT de enfermeiros em hospitais.

Impact of rheumatoid arthritis on quality of life

Quality of life (QOL) of patients affected by various diseases is now recognized as an important outcome variable. Consenting patients with rheumatoid arthritis (American College of Rheumatology criteria) were included in the study. Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment, short form (WHOQOL-BREF). Disease activity was assessed by the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) for 3 variables and functional disability by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Extra-articular manifestations (ExRA) were diagnosed clinically. Seventy-five age-matched normal controls and 136 patients (19 males) were included. The mean duration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 9 +/- 5.8 years. The mean DAS28 and HAQ were 4.43 +/- 1.4 and 0.97 +/- 1.6, respectively. At least one ExRA was present in 30 (22.1%) patients. The WHOQOL scores were significantly lower in patients with RA compared to normal controls. Patients and normal controls scored highest in the social relationship domain. There was significant inverse correlation of HAQ with all four domains of WHOQOL. There was significant inverse correlation of DAS28 with the physical health and psychological domains. Patients with ExRA scored significantly lower in the physical health domain of WHOQOL. Multiple regression analysis showed only HAQ to independently affect QOL. Quality of life is compromised in patients with RA. Patients and normal controls scored higher in the social relationship domain. Functional disability is the most important factor affecting QOL in RA.

Development and validation of the revised Cedars-Sinai health-related quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis instrument

OBJECTIVE

To improve accuracy and content coverage of the original 33-item Cedars-Sinai Health-Related Quality of Life for Rheumatoid Arthritis Instrument (CSHQ-RA).

METHODS

A total of 312 RA patients from 55 sites were screened in a 24-week trial. Patients completed an expanded 48-item version of the CSHQ-RA, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (MOS SF-36), and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) Disability Index at 5 visits. The revised CSHQ-RA was created based on response frequencies and distributions, item-to-item correlation, factor and Rasch analysis, and input from experts. Psychometric evaluation included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and responsiveness. Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) was also measured.

RESULTS

Response rates were 93% at baseline and 71% at 12 weeks. Eighty-one percent of respondents at baseline were women, mean +/- SD age was 52 +/- 12 years, and mean +/- SD duration of RA was 10.8 +/- 10.4 years. The revised CSHQ-RA included 36 items measuring 7 domains (4 original and 3 new). All Cronbach's alpha coefficients were >0.8, indicating good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability measured intraclass correlation coefficients, which ranged from 0.86 to 0.95. All 7 domains correlated significantly with the MOS SF-36 and HAQ, indicating good convergent validity. Analysis of variance of disability group scores showed good discriminant validity (P < 0.0001). The MCIDs ranged from 6.2 for social well-being to 14.8 for pain/discomfort.

CONCLUSION

The revised CSHQ-RA was validated using a broader RA patient population. It captures 3 additional domains (social well-being, pain/discomfort, and fatigue), which allow for measuring all important aspects of health-related quality of life.