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Development of a questionnaire to measure patient-reported postoperative recovery: content validity and intra-patient reliability |
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| Authors: | René e Allvin RNA MScN, Margareta Ehnfors RNT DMSc, Narinder Rawal MD PhD, Elisabeth Svensson PhD, Ewa Idvall RNT PhD |
| Affiliation: | Acute Pain Nurse, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Örebro University Hospital, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Centre for Evidence Based Medicine and Assessment of Medical Technology Örebro, Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden; Professor, FACMI, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Örebro University Hospital, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Professor, Statistics at Swedish Business School, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Associate Professor, Kalmar County Council and Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden |
| Abstract: | Aims and objectives In this study we describe the development of a short, easy-to-use questionnaire to measure postoperative recovery and evaluate its content validity and intra-patient reliability. The questionnaire is designed to evaluate the progress of postoperative recovery and the long-term follow-up of possible effects of interventions during recovery. Methods The study involved four steps. (1) A conceptualization and item definitions were based on a theoretical framework and a description of patients' postoperative recovery from the perspective of patients, registered nurses and surgeons; (2) Content validity of items was tested through expert judgements; (3) A test run of the questionnaire was performed to confirm its feasibility and workload requirement; and (4) The stability of the questionnaire was evaluated through intra-patient reliability assessment. Results As a result of the operationalization process of the concept postoperative recovery, five dimensions (physical symptoms, physical functions, psychological, social, activity) and 19 items were identified. Each item was formulated as a statement in the questionnaire. Content validity was judged to be high. After the pre-test of the questionnaire a revision with refinements in the layout was made. The vast majority of items showed a high level of intra-patient reliability. Conclusion Based on a theoretical framework and empirical data, we developed a short and easy-to-use tentative questionnaire to measure patient-reported postoperative recovery. Initial support for content validity was established. The vast majority of items showed a high level of test–retest reliability. |
| Keywords: | content validity postoperative recovery questionnaire reliability |