Quality of life after pulmonary embolism: validation of the PEmb-QoL Questionnaire
F A Klok, D M Cohn, S Middeldorp, M Scharloo, H R Büller, K W van Kralingen, A A Kaptein, M V Huisman, F A Klok, D M Cohn, S Middeldorp, M Scharloo, H R Büller, K W van Kralingen, A A Kaptein, M V Huisman
Abstract
Background: Even though quality of life (QoL) has become a key component of medical care, there is no instrument available that specifically measures QoL after pulmonary embolism (PE). Recently, the Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life (PEmb-QoL) Questionnaire has been developed to address this gap.
Objective: To evaluate the validity of the PEmb-QoL questionnaire.
Methods: We distributed the PEmb-QoL questionnaire and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire twice among consecutive subjects with a history of objectively confirmed acute PE. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity and criterion validity, and correlations between the PEmb-QoL and clinical patient characteristics were assessed using standard-scale construction techniques.
Results: Ninety participants completed the questionnaires twice. Internal consistency was adequate (Cronbach's alpha 0.62-0.94), as well as test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients: 0.78-0.94). Furthermore, correlation between the PEmb-QoL questionnaire and the SF-36 questionnaire supported convergent validity. Age, obesity, cardiopulmonary comorbidity, centrally located PE and a family history of venous thromboembolism were shown to be independent determinants of disease-specific QoL.
Conclusion: The PEmb-QoL questionnaire is a reliable instrument to specifically assess QoL following PE, which is helpful in the identification of patients with decreased QoL following acute PE.
Source: PubMed