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. 2017 Jul 6:4:7.
doi: 10.1186/s40814-017-0150-y. eCollection 2018.

Assessment of the face validity, feasibility and utility of a patient-completed questionnaire for polymyalgia rheumatica: a postal survey using the QQ-10 questionnaire

Helen Twohig  1 , Georgina Jones  2 , Sarah Mackie  3 , Christian Mallen  4 , Caroline Mitchell  5
Affiliations

Assessment of the face validity, feasibility and utility of a patient-completed questionnaire for polymyalgia rheumatica: a postal survey using the QQ-10 questionnaire

Helen Twohig et al. Pilot Feasibility Stud. .

Erratum in

  • Erratum to: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, Vol. 4.
    Pilot and Feasibility Studies. Pilot and Feasibility Studies. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2017 Oct 24;3:48. doi: 10.1186/s40814-017-0183-2. eCollection 2017. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2017. PMID: 29123916 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Background: The development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a condition that causes pain, stiffness and disability, is necessary as there is no current validated disease-specific measure. Initial literature synthesis and qualitative research established a conceptual framework for the condition along with a list of symptoms and effects of PMR that patients felt were important to them. These findings were used to derive the candidate items for a patient-completed questionnaire. We aim to establish the face validity of this initial "long form" of a PROM.

Methods: People with a current or previous diagnosis of PMR were recruited both from the community and from rheumatology clinics. They were asked to complete the PMR questionnaire along with the QQ-10 questionnaire, which is a measure used to assess the face validity, feasibility and utility of patient healthcare questionnaires.

Results: A total of 28 participants with an age range of 59-85 years and a length of time since diagnosis from 4 months to 18 years completed the QQ-10. The overall mean "value" score was 79% (SD 12), and the mean "burden" score was 21% (SD 18). The free-text comments were analysed thematically and were found to focus on layout, content, where in the clinical pathway the questionnaire would be most beneficial, specific items missing and other areas for consideration.

Conclusions: The high mean value score and low burden score indicate that the questionnaire has good face validity and is acceptable to patients. The questionnaire now needs to undergo further psychometric evaluation and refinement to develop the final tool for use in clinical practice and research.

Keywords: Outcomes research; Patient perspective; Patient-reported outcome measures; Polymyalgia rheumatica; Questionnaire validity and utility assessment.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean value of domains contributing to the value score
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean value of domains contributing to the burden score
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Frequency distribution of scores for each question in the QQ-10
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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