Article

Quality of life is an important outcome measurement in objectifying the current
health status or therapy effects in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. In
this study, the validity and reliability of the Dutch version of the Deglutition
Handicap Index (DHI) and the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) have been
determined for oncological patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. At Maastricht
University Medical Center, 76 consecutive patients were selected and asked to
fill in three questionnaires on quality of life related to oropharyngeal
dysphagia (the SWAL-QOL, the MDADI, and the DHI) as well as a simple one-item
visual analog Dysphagia Severity Scale. None of the quality-of-life
questionnaires showed any floor or ceiling effect. The test-retest reliability of
the MDADI and the Dysphagia Severity Scale proved to be good. The test-retest
reliability of the DHI could not be determined because of insufficient data, but
the intraclass correlation coefficients were rather high. The internal
consistency proved to be good. However, confirmatory factor analysis could not
distinguish the underlying constructs as defined by the subscales per
questionnaire. When assessing criterion validity, both the MDADI and the DHI
showed satisfactory associations with the SWAL-QOL (reference or gold standard)
after having removed the less relevant subscales of the SWAL-QOL. In conclusion,
when assessing the validity and reliability of the Dutch version of the DHI or
the MDADI, not all psychometric properties have been adequately met. In general,
because of difficulties in the interpretation of study results when using
questionnaires lacking sufficient psychometric quality, it is recommended that
researchers strive to use questionnaires with the most optimal psychometric
properties.

Langue : ANGLAIS