The Validation of the Chinese (Cantonese) Version of the Patient Dignity Inventory in a Hong Kong Palliative Care Setting.

Abstract

To assess and address a patient's dignity and dignity-related distress would greatly benefit patients who have advanced stage disease. The Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) allows clinicians to identify sources of dignity-related distress for patients. The PDI should be evaluated for use in a local Chinese setting. To validate the Patient Dignity Inventory Hong Kong-Chinese (Cantonese) version (PDI-HK) and assess the psychometric properties in patients in an inpatient palliative setting in Hong Kong. The English version of the PDI was translated and back translated, then reviewed by a panel including a clinician, clinical psychologist, and nurse clinician. Recruited patients would complete the PDI-HK, the Chinese version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Hong Kong (MQOL-HK), and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Psychometric properties including internal consistency, concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, and factor analysis were tested. A total of 97 consecutive patients were recruited into the study. The mean PDI score was 51.85 (range 25-102). Cronbach's alpha was 0.953 (p < 0.001). Concurrent validity with the HADS and MQOL-HK questionnaire was established. Factor analysis showed four factors, namely Existential Distress, Physical Change and Function, Psychological Distress, and Support. These were similar to previous PDI validation studies. The PDI was translated into Chinese (Cantonese) and applied in an inpatient palliative care unit in Hong Kong, with adequate validity. The PDI-HK version can be further used in a larger Chinese population to assess and address dignity-related issues.