Magdalena Rohr1, Susanne Brandstetter2, Anna-Sophie Plomer3, Julika Loss3, Rainer Kretschmer4, Christian Apfelbacher5. 1. Medical Sociology, Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: magdalena.rohr@ukr.de. 2. Medical Sociology, Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO-Clinics), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. 3. Medical Sociology, Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. 4. Department of Trauma Surgery, University Regensburg, Germany. 5. Medical Sociology, Institute for Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Institute for Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Family Medicine and Primary Care, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hip fracture patients´ views on content validity and feasibility of four commonly used generic measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: We interviewed 32 elderly hip fracture patients without relevant cognitive impairment (mean age=81 years). Using think-aloud and verbal probing techniques, patients completed the EQ-5D descriptive system, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Short-Form 12 Health Questionnaire (SF-12) and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: Patients were mostly not able to self-complete the questionnaires. Content validity was most constrained by problems in comprehensibility (e.g. vaguely phrased). Some items, for instance, were considered irrelevant if the example was inappropriate. Patients named e.g. problems with vision as important for their HRQOL, but none of the instruments included related items. CONCLUSION: Although patients reported problems with all instruments, we suggest the EQ-5D or SF-12, as these appear to have the fewest limitations in content validity and feasibility from the patient´s perspective.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hip fracturepatients´ views on content validity and feasibility of four commonly used generic measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: We interviewed 32 elderly hip fracturepatients without relevant cognitive impairment (mean age=81 years). Using think-aloud and verbal probing techniques, patients completed the EQ-5D descriptive system, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Short-Form 12 Health Questionnaire (SF-12) and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS:Patients were mostly not able to self-complete the questionnaires. Content validity was most constrained by problems in comprehensibility (e.g. vaguely phrased). Some items, for instance, were considered irrelevant if the example was inappropriate. Patients named e.g. problems with vision as important for their HRQOL, but none of the instruments included related items. CONCLUSION: Although patients reported problems with all instruments, we suggest the EQ-5D or SF-12, as these appear to have the fewest limitations in content validity and feasibility from the patient´s perspective.