title: Pancreatitis Quality of Life Instrument: Development of a new instrument.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this project was to develop the first disease-specific instrument for the evaluation of quality of life in chronic pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups and interview sessions were conducted, with chronic pancreatitis patients, to identify items felt to impact quality of life which were subsequently formatted into a paper-and-pencil instrument. This instrument was used to conduct an online survey by an expert panel of pancreatologists to evaluate its content validity. Finally, the modified instrument was presented to patients during precognitive testing interviews to evaluate its clarity and appropriateness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 10 patients were enrolled in the focus groups and interview sessions where they identified 50 items. Once redundant items were removed, the 40 remaining items were made into a paper-and-pencil instrument referred to as the Pancreatitis Quality of Life Instrument. Through the processes of content validation and precognitive testing, the number of items in the instrument was reduced to 24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This marks the development of the first disease-specific instrument to evaluate quality of life in chronic pancreatitis. It includes unique features not found in generic instruments (economic factors, stigma, and spiritual factors). Although this marks a giant step forward, psychometric evaluation is still needed prior to its clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Wahid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wassef
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bova
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartigan
keywords: Pancreatitis Quality of Life Instrument; Quality of life; chronic pancreatitis