Agreement between patient and proxy responses of health-related quality of life after hip fracture.
OBJECTIVE
To examine agreement between patient and proxy respondents on health-related quality of life (HRQL) over time during the 6-month recovery after hip fracture.


METHODS
Prospective longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
A healthcare region serving Edmonton, Alberta, and the surrounding area.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-five patients aged 65 and older, were treated for hip fracture, and had Mini-Mental State Examination scores greater than 17; 245 family caregivers participated as proxy respondents.


METHODS
Primary outcome was HRQL (Health Utilities Mark 2 and Mark 3). Interviews were completed within 5 days after surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Agreement was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).


RESULTS
Agreement was considered moderate to excellent for HRQL. ICC values ranged from 0.50 to 0.85 (P<.001) for physically based observable dimensions of health status and from 0.32 to 0.66 (P<.01) for less-observable dimensions. Agreement improved with time. Time and the number of days between patient and proxy interviews were significant factors in accounting for patient-proxy differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Although proxy and patient responses are not interchangeable, proxy responses provide an option for assessing function and health status in patients who are unable to respond on their own behalf.
Jones
C Allyson
CA
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Allyson.Jones@ualberta.ca
Feeny
David H
DH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019727:Proxy / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life