![Sample our Behavioral Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110801/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Behavioral-Sciences.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Background
Aphasia affects approximately one-third of stroke survivors and has a significant impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQL).
Aims
This study assessed the psychometric properties of HRQL instruments and related constructs designed for use in people with aphasia (PWA) for use in individual clients or clinical trials, i.e., individual-level and group-level decision-making, respectively. Instruments were identified by conducting a comprehensive literature review of condition-specific, self-report measures of HRQL used in PWA. Evaluation of identified instruments was based on the 2002 Scientific Advisory Committee of the Measurement Outcomes Trust (SAC) criteria: conceptual model, burden (respondent and administrator), versatility, validity (content and construct), depth (floor and ceiling effects), reliability (internal consistency and test-retest), responsiveness and interpretability (norms and quality). SAC criteria totalled 13 for individual-level and 13 for group-level decision-making.
Main contribution
Most SAC criteria (%individual-level: %group-level) were met by the Assessment of Living with Aphasia (ALA) (92%:85%), followed closely by Communication Outcome after Stroke (COAST)(84%:77%) and Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life (SAQOL-39g) (77%:77%), for instruments’ total scores. Not meeting burden and versatility criteria limited suitability of SAQOL-39g in PWA, while COAST lacked construct validity and reliability data to support its domain structure. Unmet criteria for evaluated instruments were predominantly due to unavailable data in PWA. Investigators need to continue to publish their psychometric findings in the context in which they were obtained, specifically population and setting.
Conclusions
Of reviewed instruments, ALA showed the most promise to measure HRQL in PWA. In instrument selection, practitioners should consider the desired construct of measurement and characteristics of the target population including aphasia severity and type. For PWA, instruments including pictures and allowing for nonverbal cues will provide broader applicability in this population.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.