Self-Evaluation of Quality of Life Among Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Validation Study.

Abstract

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) can increase survival and quality of life (QOL) in cases of chronic intestinal failure. The present study compares a gold standard-a validated QOL assessment by Baxter et al (hereafter, HPN-QOL)-with a shorter questionnaire for QOL evaluation (hereafter, New QOL). Both questionnaires were completed by 58 patients attending the nutrition clinic of the Rabin Medical Center (Israel). A z score was used to equate means and variances. Statistical analysis was based on Pearson correlation between variances. Stepwise regression was used to evaluate the best value predictor in the New QOL for QOL during HPN. Cronbach's α was used for internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis was used for structural validity. Results from the sections of the New QOL that relate to the patient's general health, level of independence, and experience with handling the parenteral nutrition therapy are highly correlated with the HPN-QOL (r = 0.43 and r = 0.50, respectively). In addition, there was good correlation between the questionnaires with reference to the patient's social state, mental state, and everyday functioning (r = -0.43, New QOL; r = -0.39, HPN-QOL). However, the New QOL results show no correlation between the patient's physical symptoms and QOL during HPN. This was hypothesized to result from the nature of the study population. The results of our new questionnaire are well correlated with the gold standard HPN-QOL. The New QOL appears to be simple and easy to use.