Qing-Tong Meng
RN, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China
Title: Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure
Biography
Biography: Qing-Tong Meng
Abstract
Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) experience physical symptoms and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Physical symptoms are associated with QOL. A valid instrument to assess symptoms of patients with HF would be useful for comparison of groups and for illness assessment and intervention. The Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure (SSQ-HF), a convenient, reliable, and valid instrument for evaluating symptoms in patients with HF, has not been validated in China.
Purpose: To examine the psychometric properties of the Symptom Status Questionnaire - Heart Failure (SSQ-HF) in Chinese with HF. Method: The Chinese version was translated using translation and back-translation. The cross-sectional study of 180 patients was designed to evaluate the validities and reliabilities. Participants were asked to complete 3 instruments including Chinese version of MSAS–HF, English version of the SSQ-HF and Chinese version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) as the criteria of criterion-related validity and factorial validity, internal consistency reliability. Results: The SSQ-HF demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α of .70). The correlation (r=.43–.68) between items and the scale provided further evidence of internal consistency. There was acceptable criterion validity with significantly high correlations (varying from 0.70 to 0.82) between the SSQ-HF and the criteria. Principal component analysis revealed two factors which differs the original scale.
Conclusions: The Chinese version of the SSQ-HF appeared to be a valid and reliable instrument and was considered ready for use in the routine screening of patients with HF.