Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire: sensitivity to outcomes in pulmonary rehabilitation in severe pulmonary illness.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of the Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire (SOLDQ) to detect change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) and to determine associations with other functional indicators.


METHODS
A prospective pre- and post-test design. A PRP was offered for 60 minutes, 2 times per week for 8 weeks. Measured at entry and exit to the PRP: the SOLDQ (physical, emotional, and coping skills), 6-minute walk, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey-36 Veterans (SF-36V) (physical and mental), Lareau Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale. Setting was an outpatient PRP in a VA Medical Center.


RESULTS
Participants included 58 adults who completed the PRP (age mean = 66, SD +/- 9.8; FEV1% predicted mean = 39, SD +/- 15.9). At baseline, significant correlations were found between SOLDQ physical functioning and SF-36V physical, dyspnea, fatigue, 6-minute walk distance, SF-36V mental, and spirometry. SOLDQ emotional functioning significantly correlated with fatigue, dyspnea, and SF-36V mental and physical. SOLDQ coping skills significantly correlated with fatigue, dyspnea, and SF-36V mental and physical. Paired, 2-tailed, t tests comparing the SOLDQ subscales pre- and post-program were significant, with the biggest treatment effect seen with emotional functioning. Other measures showing significant improvement included 6-minute walk, SF-36V physical, dyspnea, and fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
After participation in a PRP, all 3 SOLDQ subscales improved significantly and were associated with other indicators of function. These findings validate the SOLDQ as a measure sensitive to functional changes associated with participation in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Belza
Basia
B
Department of Behavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, USA. basiab@u.washington.edu
Steele
Bonnie G
BG
Cain
Kevin
K
Coppersmith
Jeff
J
Howard
JoEllen
J
Lakshminarayan
Sambasiva
S
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D014861:Washington