Psychometric properties of the Danish Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39gDK)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background People with aphasia may be particularly vulnerable to a loss of quality of life after an acquired brain injury, but only a limited number of self-report measures have been adapted to people with aphasia. Aims To investigate the psychometric properties of the Danish version of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39g (SAQOL-39gDK). Methods and procedures The questionnaire was administered to 72 participants admitted to inpatient neurorehabilitation after an acquired brain injury (65 with stroke) of which 22 had aphasia. Outcomes and results Items demonstrated an acceptable level of skewness, floor, and ceiling effects. Hypothesized associations between subscales and the total scale were generally confirmed. Test-retest reliability was acceptable, although wide confidence intervals suggested a positive change in quality of life during the test-retest interval. Acceptable levels of internal reliability were found of the total scale and subscales (Crohnbach’s alpha = 0.84–0.94, omega total = 0.84–0.94). Inter-item correlations and worst-split half reliability indicated that not all subscales were unidimensional, and confirmatory factory analysis only supported a one-factor model for the communication subscale. Conclusions The reliability and validity of SAQOL-39gDK were found to be acceptable and comparable to other language versions of the scale according to criteria used in previous psychometric studies. The factor structure of the original scale could not be confirmed in the present study and should be investigated further in a larger sample of participants.