Validity of three asthma-specific quality of life questionnaires: the patients' perspective

Apfelbacher, Christian J. and Jones, Christina J. and Frew, Anthony and Smith, Helen (2016) Validity of three asthma-specific quality of life questionnaires: the patients' perspective. BMJ OPEN, 6 (12): e011793. ISSN 2044-6055,

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Abstract

Objectives: It is not known which of the many asthma-specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaires best capture the lived experience of people with asthma. The objective of this study was to explore patients' views of three commonly used asthma-specific QoL questionnaires. Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Setting: Primary and secondary care in Brighton and Hove, UK. Participants: 30 adult people with a physician-diagnosis of asthma who were asked to complete the Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-J), the Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-S) and the Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ) to elicit their views on the content validity of these. Results: Thematic content analysis revealed a lack of congruence between the concerns of people with asthma and the questionnaire content in terms of missing (eg, allergies) and irrelevant (eg, smoky restaurants) content. The AQLQ-J was perceived as a 'narrow', 'medical' questionnaire focused on symptoms, the environment and functional ability. In contrast, the LWAQ and the AQLQ-S were perceived to be 'non-medical'. The LWAQ was described as a 'test' and as a wide-ranging, embracing and holistic questionnaire. Its strong emotional focus was irritating to some. The AQLQ-S was described as a simple, quick and easy questionnaire, although there was a perception that it was lacking in depth. Conclusions: Patient interviews highlighted strengths and shortcomings in the content validity of these three asthma-specific questionnaires. For patients, the AQLQ-S content seemed to be the most pertinent in its adequacy of coverage of medical, social and emotional aspects of health-related QoL in asthma.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: FOCUS GROUPS; SCALE;
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Institut für Epidemiologie und Präventivmedizin > Medical Sociology
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 21 Mar 2019 06:40
Last Modified: 21 Mar 2019 06:40
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/2596

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