Document 1057
 DOCN  M94A1057
 TI    Assessment of questionnaires in a quality of life study.
 DT    9412
 AU    Serpelloni G; Morasso G; Costantini M; Parise M; Carli L; Borreani C;
       Bassi A; SSH ULSS 25, Verona, Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):219 (abstract no. PB0889). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371518
 AB    OBJECTIVES: Assessment of a questionnaire which will permit researchers
       to evaluate psychological distress in patients with HIV both in terms of
       illness and related treatment. The questionnaire must be easy to
       administer and understand so that patients can compile it autonomously
       with little guidance. METHODS: An initial series of 15 items were
       identified by a group of psychologists from the Istituto Tumori of Genoa
       on the basis of their experience with HIV+ patients. Thesewere examined
       by 13 health care workers from the HIV Screening Unit of Verona with
       clinical experience in treating patients with HIV. The health care
       workers were asked to judge the relevance of the items and to integrate
       these. This procedure led to the inclusion of three more items which
       were then evaluated by a committee composed of 7 members from both
       participating institutes. The committee terminated the first phase of
       work by judging the items satisfactory and the questionnaire complete.
       RESULTS: The questionnaire, composed of 18 items, was administered to a
       heterogenous sample of 28 patients with HIV in various stages of
       infection. Answers were furnished utilising a Likert Scale of 5 points.
       The questionnaire was completed by 24 patients (85.7%). Notwithstanding
       the good consistency (alpha 0.87), 5 items had a low correlation with
       the questionnaire (r < 0.40). On the basis of the results obtained and
       using the comments furnished directly by the participating patients, 10
       items were partially reformulated. The definitive version of the
       questionnaire is currently being administered to 200 patients with HIV
       to evaluate its psychometric properties. Simultaneously, patients are
       asked to respond to a check list of 33 physical symptoms associated with
       HIV illness, judged to be relevant and complete by a group of 21 health
       personnel working in AIDS field. An interview is compiled for each
       participating patient in which life events which could influence the
       psychological state and the quality of life of the individual are taken
       note of and evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Upon completion, the research will
       lead to an easily administered questionnaire capable of measuring
       psychological distress in HIV+ patients and the factors which are
       related to an improved quality of life for such individuals.
 DE    Human  HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY  Interviews  Psychometrics  *Quality
       of Life  *Questionnaires  Stress, Psychological  MEETING ABSTRACT

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