The Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ): an outcomes and evaluation measure for patient education and self-management interventions for people with chronic conditions.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the development and validation of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ). The aim was to develop a user-friendly, relevant, and psychometrically sound instrument for the comprehensive evaluation of patient education programs, which can be applied across a broad range of chronic conditions.


METHODS
Item development for the heiQ was guided by a Program Logic Model, Concept Mapping, interviews with stakeholders and psychometric analyses. Construction (N=591) and confirmatory (N=598) samples were drawn from consumers of patient education programs and hospital outpatients. The properties of the heiQ were investigated using item response theory and structural equation modeling.


RESULTS
Over 90 candidate items were generated, with 42 items selected for inclusion in the final scale. Eight independent dimensions were derived: Positive and Active Engagement in Life (five items, Cronbach's alpha (alpha)=0.86); Health Directed Behavior (four items, alpha=0.80); Skill and Technique Acquisition (five items, alpha=0.81); Constructive Attitudes and Approaches (five items, alpha=0.81); Self-Monitoring and Insight (seven items, alpha=0.70); Health Service Navigation (five items, alpha=0.82); Social Integration and Support (five items, alpha=0.86); and Emotional Wellbeing (six items, alpha=0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
The heiQ has high construct validity and is a reliable measure of a broad range of patient education program benefits.


CONCLUSIONS
The heiQ will provide valuable information to clinicians, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders about the value of patient education programs in chronic disease management.
Osborne
Richard H
RH
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3050, Australia. richardo@unimelb.edu.au
Elsworth
Gerald R
GR
Whitfield
Kathryn
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D019468:Disease Management; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011209:Power, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*