TY - JOUR
T1 - The Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire
T2 - Sensitivity to differences and responsiveness to intervention intensity in a clinical population
AU - Riegel, Barbara
AU - Moser, Debra K.
AU - Glaser, Dale
AU - Carlson, Beverly
AU - Deaton, Christi
AU - Armola, Rochelle
AU - Sethares, Kristen
AU - Shively, Martha
AU - Evangelista, Lorraine
AU - Albert, Nancy
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Background: The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (LHFQ) is a commonly used measure of health-related quality of life in persons with heart failure. Researchers have questioned whether LHFQ is sensitive to subtle differences and sufficiently responsive to clinical interventions because the instrument has demonstrated variable performance in clinical trials. Objectives: A secondary analysis was conducted to assess the LHFQ for sensitivity to different clinical states and responsiveness to varying intensities of clinical intervention. Methods: A convenience sample of nine experimental or quasi-experimental studies from eight clinical sites in the United States yielded data from 1,136 patients with heart failure. Data in the studies had been collected at enrollment and one, three, and/or six months later. Data were analyzed using descriptive, univariate, and multivariate techniques. Results: Total and subscale scores on LHFQ were poorer in those with worse New York Heart Association functional class, although there was no difference in LHFQ scores between classes III and IV. No difference in LHFQ scores was found when patients were classified by ejection fraction. Scores improved significantly following hospital discharge, even in those in the control group. Changes in LHFQ scores were greatest in those receiving high intensity interventions. Conclusions: The LHFQ is sensitive to major differences in symptom severity but may not be sensitive to subtle differences. It is responsive to high intensity interventions. Investigators are cautioned against using this instrument without first maximizing intervention power or without a control group for comparison.
AB - Background: The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (LHFQ) is a commonly used measure of health-related quality of life in persons with heart failure. Researchers have questioned whether LHFQ is sensitive to subtle differences and sufficiently responsive to clinical interventions because the instrument has demonstrated variable performance in clinical trials. Objectives: A secondary analysis was conducted to assess the LHFQ for sensitivity to different clinical states and responsiveness to varying intensities of clinical intervention. Methods: A convenience sample of nine experimental or quasi-experimental studies from eight clinical sites in the United States yielded data from 1,136 patients with heart failure. Data in the studies had been collected at enrollment and one, three, and/or six months later. Data were analyzed using descriptive, univariate, and multivariate techniques. Results: Total and subscale scores on LHFQ were poorer in those with worse New York Heart Association functional class, although there was no difference in LHFQ scores between classes III and IV. No difference in LHFQ scores was found when patients were classified by ejection fraction. Scores improved significantly following hospital discharge, even in those in the control group. Changes in LHFQ scores were greatest in those receiving high intensity interventions. Conclusions: The LHFQ is sensitive to major differences in symptom severity but may not be sensitive to subtle differences. It is responsive to high intensity interventions. Investigators are cautioned against using this instrument without first maximizing intervention power or without a control group for comparison.
KW - Clinical sensitivity
KW - Dose-response analysis
KW - Heart failure
KW - Instrument
KW - Measurement
KW - Responsiveness
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U2 - 10.1097/00006199-200207000-00001
DO - 10.1097/00006199-200207000-00001
M3 - Article
C2 - 12131233
AN - SCOPUS:0036635323
SN - 0029-6562
VL - 51
SP - 209
EP - 218
JO - Nursing Research
JF - Nursing Research
IS - 4
ER -