A post-discharge quality of life outcome measure for lower limb amputees: test-retest reliability and construct validity.
OBJECTIVE
To adapt the Patient Generated Index (PGI) quality of life measure for use with lower limb amputees and to conduct a test-retest reliability and construct validity study on the adapted measure.


METHODS
Repeat questionnaire interviews with a four-week interval administered by trained peers.


METHODS
Participants' homes.


METHODS
Forty-two unilateral lower limb transfemoral amputees, 16 years of age or older and fluent in English, fitted with a prosthesis and discharged into the community for at least one year following postoperative rehabilitation therapy.


RESULTS
An intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.48 (p < 0.001) was achieved for the index reliability analyses. Intraclass correlation (ICC) values for the seven most commonly mentioned areas of life affected by the amputation and its treatment ranged from 0.40 to 0.92. Comparing the PGI with the SF-12 Health Survey physical and mental component summaries gave Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.12 (p < 0.5) and 0.56 (p < 0.001) respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed the SF-12 physical and mental component scores explained 31.5% of the variability in PGI scores, however, the mental component scores alone explained 31.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
The PGI was adapted and found to be moderately reliable in terms of repeatability during successive follow-up interviews. Testing its construct validity supported a stronger relationship between mental health and quality of life than between physical health and quality of life.
Callaghan
B G
BG
The National Centre for Training and Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. brian.callaghan@strath.ac.uk
Condie
M E
ME
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires