title: Validation of the Stroke-specific Quality of Life for patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and proposed summary subscores.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients with a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is challenging. Failure of clinical trials has been partially attributed to lack of sensitivity in outcome measures. Stroke-specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) is a disease-specific HRQOL tool widely applied in ischemic stroke researches, but not in aSAH.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to validate a Chinese version of SSQOL (SS-QOL-CH) for aSAH patients and proposed summary scores for clinical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a prospective observational assessor-blinded multi-center study in Hong Kong. One hundred and four Chinese adults were recruited into the current study, and assessments of the outcome of aSAH patients were made 3months after ictus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistency was good and supported convergent validity for 12 domains of the SS-QOL-CH, with Cronbach's α coefficients ranging from 0.73 to 0.98. Principal component analyses suggested a two-component solution to explain a total of 65% variance. The two-component solution showed no significant floor or ceiling effects in our aSAH population. Validity of the criteria for the physical and psychosocial subtotal scores showed relevant and distinct correlations with other outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dichotomization of physical and psychosocial subtotal scores is valid and can simplify applications of the scale.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. georgewong@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk
authors: George Kwok Chu
authors: GK
authors: Wong
authors: Sandy Wai
authors: SW
authors: Lam
authors: Karine
authors: K
authors: Ngai
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Wong
authors: Wai Sang
authors: WS
authors: Poon
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Mok
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires