Development of a Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Patients with Extremity Soft Tissue Infections
Author Information
Author(s): Aric J Storck, Kevin B Laupland, Ronald R Read, Manuel W Mah, John M Gill, Deborah Nevett, Thomas J Louie
Primary Institution: Calgary Health Region
Hypothesis
The objective of this study was to develop a health-related quality of life questionnaire (HRQL) for patients with extremity soft tissue infections (ESTI) for future use in clinical trials.
Conclusion
The ESTI-Score is a novel instrument designed to quantify the impact of ESTI on quality of life.
Supporting Evidence
- The study generated a list of 49 items affecting quality of life from literature and patient interviews.
- Questionnaire domains included physical symptoms, daily living activities, emotional functioning, and social interactions.
- The final questionnaire was pre-tested on ten patients to ensure clarity and understanding.
Takeaway
Researchers created a new questionnaire to help understand how extremity soft tissue infections affect patients' lives, which will be used in future studies.
Methodology
The study followed guidelines for HRQL instrument development, including item generation, reduction, and pre-testing.
Potential Biases
The study was conducted in a single outpatient clinic and only included English-speaking patients.
Limitations
The ESTI-Score requires further validation in other cohorts and may not be generalizable to all patients with ESTI.
Participant Demographics
Most participants were middle-aged men with uncomplicated cellulitis.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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