Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Ventricular Assist Device: Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Quality of Life With a Ventricular Assist Device Questionnaire

Hannah Spielmann, Katharina Tigges-Limmer, Wolfgang Albert, Christine Spitz-Köberich, Sandra Semmig-Könze, Paulina Staus, Christoph Herrmann-Lingen, Kristin E. Sandau, Brynn Okeson, Siegfried Geyer, Christiane Kugler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation has become an alternative treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. In Germany, valid and reliable instruments to assess health-related quality of life in patients with VAD are lacking. Objective The aim of this study was to present the psychometric validation of the German version of the Quality of Life with a Ventricular Assist Device questionnaire. Methods In a multicenter, cross-sectional study, 393 participants (mean age, 58.3 years; 85.8% male, 60.3% bridge to transplant, and 72.8% living with VAD for ≤2 years) completed the German Quality of Life with a Ventricular Assist Device questionnaire of physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and meaning/spiritual domains. Item and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test item difficulty and discrimination and the underlying structure, respectively. To examine internal consistency, Cronbach α was assessed. Convergent construct validity was tested using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Readability was examined using Flesch Reading Ease index and Vienna Factual Text Formula. Results The Quality of Life with a Ventricular Assist Device showed reasonable item difficulty (Ptotal =.67) and mostly moderate to high discriminatory power (rit > 0.30). In confirmatory factor analysis, root-mean-square error of approximation (0.07) was acceptable for model fit, but no other indices. Acceptable internal consistency was found (α ≥ 0.79), with the exception of the cognitive domain (α = 0.58). The overall questionnaire and single domains demonstrated convergent validity (r ≥ 0.45, P <.001). The questionnaire showed adequate readability (Flesch Reading Ease, 64.11; Vienna Factual Text Formula, 6.91). Conclusion Findings indicate a promising standardized clinical instrument to assess health-related quality of life in patients with VAD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)571-582
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Cardiovascular Nursing
Volume39
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2024
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • health-related quality of life
  • instrument development
  • psychometric evaluation
  • ventricular assist device

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study
  • Validation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Ventricular Assist Device: Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Quality of Life With a Ventricular Assist Device Questionnaire'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this