Development of a new dyspepsia impact scale: the Nepean Dyspepsia Index.
BACKGROUND
There is not at present a suitable disease-specific health-related quality of life instrument for uninvestigated dyspepsia and functional (non-ulcer) dyspepsia.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a new multi-dimensional disease-specific instrument.


METHODS
The Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) was designed to measure impairment of a subject's ability to engage in relevant aspects of their life and also their enjoyment of these aspects; in addition, the individual importance of each aspect is assessed. A 42-item quality of life measure was developed and tested, both in out-patients presenting to general practice with upper gastrointestinal complaints (n = 113) and in a randomly chosen population-based sample (n = 347).


RESULTS
Adequate face and content validity was documented by an expert panel. Factor analysis identified four clinically relevant subscales: interference with activities of daily living, work, enjoyment of life and emotional well-being; lack of knowledge and control over the illness; disturbance to eating or drinking; and disturbance to sleep because of dyspepsia. These scales had high internal consistency. Both symptoms and the quality of life scores discriminated dyspepsia from health.


CONCLUSIONS
The Nepean Dyspepsia Index is a reliable and valid disease-specific index for dyspepsia, measuring symptoms and health-related quality of life.
Talley
N J
NJ
Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, Australia. ntalley@blackburn.med.usyd.edu.au
Haque
M
M
Wyeth
J W
JW
Stace
N H
NH
Tytgat
G N
GN
Stanghellini
V
V
Holtmann
G
G
Verlinden
M
M
Jones
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life