title: Psychometric properties of the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many patients with heart failure (HF) experience physical symptoms, poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and high rates of hospitalization. Physical symptoms are associated with HRQOL and are major antecedents of hospitalization. However, reliable and valid physical symptom instruments have not been established. Therefore, this study examined the psychometric properties of the Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure (SSQ-HF) in patients with HF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on symptoms using the SSQ-HF were collected from 249 patients (aged 61 years, 67% male, 45% in New York Heart Association functional class III/IV). Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α. Item homogeneity was assessed using item-total and interitem correlations. Construct validity was assessed using factor analysis and testing hypotheses on known relationships. Data on depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory II), HRQOL (Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire), and event-free survival were collected to test known relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistency reliability was supported: Cronbach's α was .80. Item-total correlation coefficients and interitem correlation coefficients were acceptable. Factor analysis supported the construct validity of the instrument. More severe symptoms were associated with more depressive symptoms, poorer HRQOL, and more risk for hospitalization, emergency department visit, or death, controlling for covariates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study support the reliability and validity of the SSQ-HF. Clinicians and researchers can use this instrument to assess physical symptoms in patients with HF.
authors.affiliation: Seongkum Heo, PhD, RN Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock Debra K. Moser, DNSc, RN, FAAN Professor and Gill Chair of Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Susan J. Pressler, PhD, RN Professor, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Sandra B. Dunbar, DSN, RN Professor, School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia Gia Mudd-Martin, PhD, RN Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington Terry A. Lennie, PhD, RN Professor, University of Kentucky, College of Nursing, Lexington.
authors.forename: Seongkum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pressler
authors.forename: Sandra B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: Gia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mudd-Martin
authors.forename: Terry A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lennie
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*