Abstract
BackgroundExisting evidence for validity of the visual analog scale of the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire (EQ-VAS) is weak in Chinese-speaking respondents in Singapore. We therefore investigated the validity of the Chinese (Singapore) version of EQ-VAS in patients with diabetes.MethodsIn a cross-sectional survey, patients with type 2 diabetes seen in a primary care facility completed an identical Chinese or English questionnaire containing the EQ-5D-3L and questions assessing other health and disease-related characteristics. Convergent and known-groups validity of the EQ-VAS was examined for Chinese- and English-speaking respondents separately.ResultsThe EQ-VAS was correlated with the EQ-5D-3L health index and a 5-point Likert-type scale for assessing global health in both Chinese-speaking (N = 335) and English-speaking respondents (N = 298), suggesting convergent validity. The mean EQ-VAS scores differed between English-speaking patients with differing duration of diabetes (< 10 years versus ≥ 10 years), comorbidity status (absence versus presence), and complications of diabetes (absence versus presence), providing evidence for known-groups validity. However, the EQ-VAS scores for Chinese-speaking respondents known to differ in these characteristics were similar, even among subgroups of relatively younger patients or those with formal school education.ConclusionsChinese- and English-speaking Singaporeans respond differently to the EQ-VAS. The Chinese version of EQ-VAS appears less sensitive than its English version for measuring global health in patient populations in Singapore.
Highlights
The visual analog scale (VAS) in the EQ-5D-3L self-report questionnaire [1] is a single-item measure of global health that has demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties in many populations [2,3,4,5]
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the construct validity of the EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) in Chinese-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes using data collected in a health survey of such patients in Singapore
For Chinese-speaking patients, the EQ-VAS was correlated with the EQ-5D-3L index (Spearman’s correlation coefficient: 0.27) and self-assessed global health (Spearman’s correlation coefficient: -0.51), suggesting convergent validity
Summary
The visual analog scale (VAS) in the EQ-5D-3L self-report questionnaire [1] is a single-item measure of global health that has demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties in many populations [2,3,4,5]. The Chinese version of the EQ-VAS exhibited weak construct validity in Singapore, a multi-ethnic urban country in South-East Asia. In two previous studies in Singapore [6,7], expected associations between the EQ-VAS and other health or clinical measures were not observed among patients with rheumatic or Parkinson’ disease who completed the Chinese EQ-5D-3L questionnaire; in contrast, the English. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the construct validity of the EQ-VAS in Chinese-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes using data collected in a health survey of such patients in Singapore. Existing evidence for validity of the visual analog scale of the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire (EQ-VAS) is weak in Chinese-speaking respondents in Singapore. We investigated the validity of the Chinese (Singapore) version of EQ-VAS in patients with diabetes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
