title: Does mode of administration affect health-related quality-of-life outcomes after stroke?
abstract: Telephone interviews and postal surveys may be a resource-efficient way of assessing health-related quality-of-life post-stroke, if they produce data equivalent to face-to-face interviews. This study explored whether telephone interviews and postal surveys of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39g) yielded similar results to face-to-face interviews. Participants included people with aphasia and comprised two groups: group one (n =22) were 3-6 months post-stroke; group two (n =26) were ≥1 year post-stroke. They completed either a face-to-face and a telephone interview or a face-to-face interview and a postal survey of the SAQOL-39g. Response rates were higher for group two (87%) than for group one (72-77%). There were no significant differences between respondents and non-respondents on demographics, co-morbidities, stroke severity, or communication impairment. Concordance between face-to-face and telephone administrations (.90-.98) was excellent; and very good-excellent between face-to-face and postal administrations (.84-.96), although scores in postal administrations were lower (significant for psychosocial domain and overall SAQOL-39g in group two). These findings suggest that the SAQOL-39g yields similar results in different modes of administration. Researchers and clinicians may employ alternative modes, particularly in the longer term post-stroke, in order to reduce costs or facilitate clients with access difficulties.
authors.affiliation: City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caute
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Northcott
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pring
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hilari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors