title: Psychometric properties of the Duke Health Profile in a neuromuscular disease population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life is a subjective point of view of the patient. Its measurement is complex, but useful to personalize interventions and to evaluate the effect of care, particularly in physical medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the psychometric properties of the Duke Health Profile (DHP) in neuromuscular disease. This instrument was chosen for its excellent acceptability and its ability to evaluate ten dimensions in a short administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective multicentre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuromuscular patients in centers in Reims, Dijon and Besancon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients over 18 years with neuromuscular disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Successive inclusion between 2002 and 2005; DHP administration on two occasions, 15 days apart; collection of socio-demographic data. Statistical analyses using SAS SOFTWARE 9.3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-nine patients were included. The acceptability of the DHP was excellent. The disability dimension showed marked ceiling effect. Reliability was acceptable (Cronbach=0.54-0.73, except for the social health dimension [0.40], ICC=0.55-0.83). The anxiety and depression dimensions had discriminant properties in distinguishing patients with different functional status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DHP is suitable and valid for patients with neuromuscular disease, with some reservations for the social health and disability dimensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This tool can be used in daily clinical practice and in research.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Pole Sébastopol Hospital, CHU Reims, Reims Cedex, France - amandinerapin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapin
authors.forename: Moustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dramé
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Novella
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toussaint-Thorin
authors.forename: François C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult