Psychometric validation of the French version of the quality of life in epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-31): comparison with a generic health-related quality of life questionnaire.

A psychometric evaluation of a French transcultural version of the quality of life in epilepsy inventory-31 (QOLIE-31) was carried out. QOLIE-31 was compared to a generic health-related quality of life questionnaire, the Nottingham health profile (NHP). The psychometric properties of QOLIE-31, assessed in 190 adults with epilepsy, included: acceptability, test-retest reliability and validity (multi-trait analysis including internal consistency and item-to-scale correlations, construct validity using factor analysis, discriminative validity using relationship with disease characteristics, treatment effects, divergent and convergent validity using correlations with NHP scores). Both acceptability and reproducibility were good and internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.86). Factor analysis with varimax rotation identified seven factors with eigenvalues > 1, with two factors, related to cognitive function and mood, accounting for 46.5% of the variance. However, goodness of fit indices revealed that a model with four factors best fitted the data. The first factor corresponds to a generic mental dimension, the second is equivalent to the cognitive functioning dimension, the third to medication effects including social functioning, and the fourth to seizure worry. Discriminative validity was good for seizure control and treatment tolerability. High correlations between QOLIE-31 and pertinent NHP scales (emotional reactions, energy and social isolation) were observed. The French version of QOLIE-31 thus meets established psychometric criteria for reliability and validity.     

Validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the quality of life in epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-31) for Brazil

PURPOSE: We report the cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 Inventory (QOLIE-31) for the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture. METHODS: This study involved 150 outpatients: 50 presurgical patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) related to mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), 50 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and 50 seizure-free patients with TLE. They completed the QOLIE-31, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Adverse Events Profile (AEP) and underwent a neuropsychological evaluation (NE). Internal consistency reliability, interrater and test-retest reliability, and construct validity were assessed. RESULTS: QOLIE-31 mean scores were 33.1 (Social Function), 68.9 (Overall Quality of Life), 56.5 (Seizure Worry), 64.1 (Emotional Well-Being), 63.7 (Energy/Fatigue), 38.9 (Cognitive Function), and 49.7 (Medication Effects). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha), as were the associations between QOLIE-31 and the BDI, NHP, AEP, and NE. CONCLUSION: The Portuguese/Brazilian version of the QOLIE-31 inventory showed good reliability, validity, and construct validity.     

Validation of the side effect and life satisfaction (SEALS) inventory.

Diminished quality of life (QOL) is a common feature of epilepsy. It is generally more severe among patients with poor seizure control but prevalent, to a clinically significant degree, even among those whose seizures are well controlled. People with epilepsy frequently report diminished socialization, negative self image, feelings of stigmatization, reduced earnings potential, and diminished hope and ambition. Problems with antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy are common, and AED therapy is recognized as an important determinant of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A clinically efficient psychometric instrument is needed to measure its impact. The Side Effect and Life Satisfaction (SEALS) inventory is a 38-item, patient-completed questionnaire designed to measure satisfaction with AED therapy. We tested its construct validity in comparison with three widely used psychometric instruments of similar design, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study-Cognitive Functioning (MOS-COG) scale. All four instruments were completed by 307 epilepsy patients. A matrix of Pearson's correlations was produced for the SEALS inventory and the comparative instruments. A statistically significant correlation was found for each planned comparison. We conclude that the SEALS inventory is a valid psychometric instrument, well suited for use in clinical investigations of AED therapy and in the practical, long-term management of epilepsy.     

Reliability and validity of a Norwegian version of the quality of life in epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-89)

PURPOSE: To develop a Norwegian version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-89) and to confirm its psychometric properties. METHODS: The QOLIE-89 was adapted to Norwegian language through a translation-backtranslation procedure. The assessment included 397 patients with epilepsy. We assessed internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities. Construct validity was assessed by correlating scales with items of the 15D health status questionnaire, and discriminant validity was assessed by comparing scores for known groups. RESULTS: The internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha, 0.76-0.92) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.67-0.96) for the individual domains were acceptable. Spearman's rank correlations between QOLIE-89 domain scores and corresponding 15D single-item scores were high (p, 0.47-0.76), and generally higher than the associations between noncorresponding items. Most QOLIE-89 items discriminated well between patients according to seizure status, psychiatric comorbidity, and working status; less well after antiepileptic drug use and neurologic comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional survey, the Norwegian version of the QOLIE-89 was reliable and showed properties supporting construct validity, at a level comparable with the original U.S. version.     

Psychometric evaluation of the Serbian version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31)

PurposeTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the Serbian-language version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31).MethodsAfter undergoing a translation and cultural adaptation of its items in order to create a Serbian-language version of QOLIE-31, we assessed its psychometric properties—reliability, construct validity and criterion validity. The sample consisted of 203 adults with epilepsy. Reliability was tested both by assessing the internal consistency and by the test–retest method. Construct validity was assessed by factor analysis, multitrait-scaling analysis and method of known-groups validation. This was achieved by assessing the relationship between scales and external measures (socio-demographic characteristics, seizure severity and etiology of epilepsy). Criterion validity was assessed by correlation analysis between QOLIE-31 and Short form 36 health survey (SF-36) and Neurotoxicity scale-II.ResultsThe domains showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.94). Test–retest reliability for Overall test score was 0.83 (Pearson's coefficient) indicating temporal stability. Seizure severity and etiology of epilepsy significantly influenced all QOLIE-31 domains except the Medication effect domain, with lowest scores in high seizure severity and symptomatic etiology groups. Employment status significantly influenced Overall quality of life, Emotional well-being, Social function and Overall score. Educational level was related to the Emotional well-being domain, with highest scores for students. The QOLIE-31 was highly positively correlated with SF-36 (rho = 0.898) and strongly negatively correlated with Neurotoxicity scale-II (rho = ?0.783).ConclusionSerbian adaptation of the QOLIE-31 questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessing the quality of life in patients with epilepsy.     

Psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31)

The aim of this work was to assess the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). The study population comprised 221 patients with epilepsy who were administered the questionnaires during their regular visit to the Neurology Clinic of the University Hospital Hradec Kralove. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and validity using factor analysis were tested to detect similarities to and differences from the original version. Validity testing was completed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) of QOLIE-31 scores against seizure frequency. The internal consistency of each subscale of the QOLIE-31 was above the accepted standard of 0.7, except for Overall Quality of Life. Cronbach's alpha for the QOLIE-31 was 0.70 and varied between 0.68 and 0.89 for the seven subscales. Factor analysis of the 30 items yielded seven factors. The first factor was more heterogeneous, containing high loadings from four of the five items constituting Emotional Well-Being and three of the four items constituting Energy/Fatigue. Seizure Worry and Medication Effects were confirmed as single factors, whereas the assignment of the items in Social Functioning was not satisfactory. The seventh single factor consisted of the item "driving" from the Social Functioning subscale. Seizure frequency had a significant effect on all QOLIE-31 subscales and Overall score. Except for Social Functioning, the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the QOLIE-31 are good and similar to those of the original English version. The Czech version thus meets established psychometric criteria for validity and reliability.     

Psychometric properties of a French version of the junior temperament and character inventory

The junior temperament and character inventory (JTCI) has been developed for the assessment of temperament and character dimensions in childhood based on Cloninger’s model of personality. We evaluated the psychometric proprieties of a French child and parent-rated version of the JTCI based on a previous German version, and assessed the correlations between the JTCI dimension scores and the scores on the child behavior checklist (CBCL) in a community sample of French children and adolescents aged 10–16 years. We used data from 452 child-rated and 233 -parent-rated JCTI. The psychometric properties (internal consistency and external validity in relation to the emotionality activity sociability (EAS) questionnaire) of the French JTCI were adequate in the parent-rated version. The parent-rated JTCI had overall better psychometric qualities than the child-rated version, but for both versions of the JTCI the confirmatory factor analysis showed low fit between the observed data and the original model. Dimensions of the EAS model were significantly correlated with the temperament scales of the JTCI. Further studies are required to improve the psychometric properties of the child-rated JTCI, and to provide insight about lacking fit of our data with the theoretical model.     

Psychometric qualities of the French version of the Heinrichs quality of life rating scale.

The quality of life concept has been increasingly used as a major tool for patient care and clinical investigations. The Heinrichs quality of life scale (QLS) is the quality of life assessment method widely used in schizophrenic patients. The QLS was translated into its French version by J.D.Guelfi according the back-translation method. This version of the validation study included 60 schizophrenic inpatients. The scale possesses acceptable psychometric qualities. The test-retest reliability is good for nearly all items of the scale and for the categories and overall score. The internal consistency alpha-coefficients were 0.9 for the global score and varied between 0.6 and 0.9 according to the category. Factor analysis elicited four factors. Convergent validity is good. Recommendations for future use of the QLS are proposed.     

The Spanish version of the dementia quality of life questionnaire: a validation study

Background: The aim of the study was to adapt and validate culturally the dementia-specific health-related quality of life instrument (HRQoL) into Spanish for patients with mild to moderate dementia.

Methods: Two forward translations, a reconciled version, and then a back translation were completed and subjected to expert review. A total of 112 patients with dementia, diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, from six centres providing care for persons with dementia in Spain participated in the study. The following patient-reported information was obtained by interview: demographics, subjective perception of health, depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15; GDS-15), functional ability (Barthel Index), and both generic (World Health Organization Quality of Life; WHOQOL-BREF) and dementia-specific quality of life (DQoL).

Results: The Spanish version of the DQoL showed acceptable psychometric properties. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was acceptable for most of the DQoL scales. As expected, associations were found between DQoL scales and the WHOQOL-BREF psychological domain and the GDS-15, indicating good validity. Neither functional status nor severity of dementia was associated with QoL; but depressive symptoms and self-reported feeling ill had a negative association on QoL.

Conclusions: The results showed that the Spanish version of the DQoL has comparable psychometric properties to the US version. The DQoL appears to be a reliable and valid instrument intended to be administered to patients with mild/moderate dementia who are living at home.     

Psychometric characteristics of the French Canadian version of a satisfaction scale for hospitalized psychiatric patients]

This paper presents the results of a content and convergent validity study of the French-Canadian version of a standardized satisfaction scale for hospitalized psychiatric patients. One hundred and twenty-two patients underwent an interview during which they completed the translated version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, developed by Distephano et al, and answered open-ended questions on their satisfaction with the services they received. The results revealed strong correlations between these measures of satisfaction and a high level of internal consistency for the Distefano scale, suggesting satisfactory psychometric characteristics for this French version. As for the original questionnaire, the factorial structure yielded at least two distinct satisfaction dimensions. These results, and those of the content analysis, based on answers from the open-ended questions, helped to identify aspects mentioned by the patients but not covered by the items included in the satisfaction scales. The units' cleanliness, therapists' work and attitudes and privacy on the units are examples of these dimensions.     

Assessment of health-related quality of life and influencing factors using QOLIE-31 in Japanese patients with epilepsy

The aim of epilepsy treatment is not only to eliminate seizures, but also to improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We conducted a postal self-administered survey of HRQOL for Japanese patients using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-31), Version 1.0, and analyzed factors influencing their quality of life (QOL). Data from 599 analyzable patients were evaluated and a number of factors influencing QOL were identified, including severity and frequency of seizures, seizure control, type of epilepsy, contributing events such as injuries and falls during seizures, number of antiepileptic drugs, employment status, and surgical outcome. These findings suggest that comprehensive management of the patient should be emphasized. Consideration of all the results led to classification of these factors as one of two types: “all or nothing” and “linear.” With respect to “all or nothing” factors (e.g. “daytime remarkable seizures”), patients may not be able to improve their QOL unless these factors can be completely controlled. Comparison of each score on the QOLIE-31 subscales with published data revealed that the scores for the subscale Medication Effects were markedly low.     

Psychometric properties of the quality of life questionnaire for children with CP

This paper describes the development and psychometric properties of a condition-specific quality of life instrument for children with cerebral palsy (CP QOL-Child). A sample of 205 primary caregivers of children with CP aged 4 to 12 years (mean 8y 5mo) and 53 children aged 9 to 12 years completed the CP QOL-Child. The children (112 males, 93 females) were sampled across Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels (Level I=18%, II=28%, III=14%, IV=11%, V=27%). Primary caregivers also completed other measures of child health (Child Health Questionnaire; CHQ), QOL (KIDSCREEN), and functioning (GMFCS). Internal consistency ranged from 0.74 to 0.92 for primary caregivers and from 0.80 to 0.90 for child self-report. For primary caregivers, 2-week test-retest reliability ranged from 0.76 to 0.89. The validity of the CP QOL is supported by the pattern of correlations between CP QOL-Child scales with the CHQ, KIDSCREEN, and GMFCS. Preliminary statistics suggest that the child self-report questionnaire has acceptable psychometric properties. The questionnaire can be freely accessed at http://www.deakin.edu.ac/hmnbs/chase/cerebralpalsy/cp_qol_home.php.     

Psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire to measure the quality of life of people with profound multiple disabilities (QOL-PMD)

Because of a shortage of valid instruments to measure the QOL of people with profound multiple disabilities (PMD), the QOL-PMD was developed. In the present study, possibilities for item reduction as well as the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were examined. One hundred and forty-seven informants of people with PMD participated in the study. Fifty items were removed from the questionnaire on the basis of preset criteria. Internal consistency was good for the total questionnaire as well as for the subscales. Evidence of the construct validity of the questionnaire was found. Correspondence between the groups of informants was moderate. The results of this preliminary analysis of the psychometric properties of the QOL-PMD are encouraging, but further validation of the measure is warranted.     

Evaluation of the quality of life in dementia with a generic quality of life questionnaire: the Duke Health Profile

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to determine the acceptability, feasibility and validity of measuring quality of life in a representative sample of dementia patients with a generic instrument, the Duke Health Profile. METHOD: The French version of the Duke Health Profile was administered to 148 subjects with a mental disorder according to the DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria. The feasibility and acceptability of employing the instrument were determined by the refusal rate, the type of administration, and the percentage and distribution of missing data. Reliability was determined with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Instrument reproducibility was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest values. Internal construct validity was determined by factor analysis. Discriminant capacity was determined by comparing the average scores on each measure among patients with and without an additional chronic pathology. The measurements obtained were compared by source of information (patient, family proxy and care provider proxy). RESULTS: The feasibility and acceptability of the instrument was good. Only 2% of the patients refused to complete the questionnaire. Help from the interviewer was necessary in 79% of the cases. The average completion time was 10.6 min. Missing data exist in only 3.5% of the cases on average, except among patients with severe dementia (Mini Mental State Examination <10). For reliability, internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's coefficient alpha = 0.5--0.7) when the self-esteem (0.23) and social health (0.26) concepts were eliminated. Reproducibility as measured by test-retest scores was moderate to good (intraclass correlation coefficient r = 0.53--0.80), except for anxiety (0.48) and perceived health (0.45). Severity of dementia mainly affected the feasibility, acceptability and reproducibility of the instrument. The family proxy seemed to agree more with the patient than did the care provider proxy. CONCLUSION: Quality of life can be measured in patients with dementia, but special tools need to be developed for severe dementia.     

Psychometric characteristics of the Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39)--Ecuadorian version

This study sought to analyse certain metric characteristics of the Ecuadorian version (EV) of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39 EV). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 137 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients attending a Movement Disorders Unit. Neurologists' assessments were based on Hoehn and Yahr (HY), Schwab and England and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales. Patients' self-evaluations included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life questionnaire (PDQL EV), and the PDQ-39 EV. Analyses for acceptability, internal consistency, precision, and construct validity (convergent and known-groups) were performed. Distribution of scores was satisfactory. There was no evidence of floor or ceiling effects. Although the alpha coefficient exceeded 0.70 for mobility, activities of daily living (ADL) and stigma, it was nevertheless low for bodily discomfort (0.48), communication (0.40), and social support (0.33). Fourteen items yielded low correlation coefficients (<0.40) with their respective dimensions. Correlation of social support and bodily discomfort with the Summary Index (SI) was modest (0.46 and 0.36, respectively). PDQ-39 EV SI convergent validity with the PDQL EV SI was very high (r(S)=-0.91), and known-groups validity proved satisfactory. Results agreed in part with those yielded by an international study, identifying specific flaws probably linked to socio-cultural influence.     

情感气质自评问卷青少年中文版的修订及信效度检验☆

目的根据情感气质自评问卷中文版,修订更适合青少年群体的情感气质自评问卷青少年中文版,并检验其信度及效度。方法基于之前修订的情感气质自评问卷中文版每个条目的因子负荷,并考虑青少年期的心理发展特点、各个因子条目数量以及内容适应性等因素,最后形成60条目的情感气质自评问卷青少年中文版,对822名11~17岁青少年进行问卷调查,评估该问卷内部一致性信度、结构效度,并比较各因子的性别差异。结果抑郁气质、环性气质、情感旺盛气质、易激惹气质以及焦虑气质因子条目的 Cranbach’sα系数分别为0.67、0.78、0.76、0.77及0.83。探索性因子分析显示焦虑气质、易激惹气质、情感旺盛气质因子可有效区分,而抑郁气质与环性气质的条目则混合在一起。女性在抑郁气质[(3.521±2.221)vs.(3.144±2.295)]、环性气质[(4.484±2.922)vs.(3.917±2.823)]、焦虑气质[(5.236±3.719)vs.(4.366±3.658)]因子的得分高于男性(P0.05),而男性情感旺盛气质因子得分则高于女性[(5.407±2.842)vs.(4.852±2.963),P0.01]。抑郁气质与环性气质因子得分呈正相关(r=0.625,P0.001),焦虑气质与易激惹气质因子得分呈正相关(r=0.628,P0.001)。结论情感气质自评问卷青少年中文版具有一定的内部一致性信度及结构效度,适用于中国青少年群体情感气质的测量。     

Psychometric evaluation of the German version of the revised spontaneity assessment inventory (SAI-R)

The author delivers an insight into her psychodramatic work with children and teenagers, who contracted a depressive episode due to a non-processed, non-grieved experience of loss.First, she discusses whether grief and depression have anything in common, how they differ and how suppressed grief can lead to a depressive episode. Then, she explains how building a therapeutic relationship can be supported and how existing resources can be discovered and strengthened. Additionally, she presents psychodramatic techniques and different interventions, which can (re-)activate the process of grief and hence help the person concerned to escape from confinement of spontaneity and creativity.