Journal Article

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Lung Transplant Quality of Life (LT-QOL) Survey

Gao, Ying, Chen, Joan, Kukreja, Jasleen, Singer, Jonathan P., Greenland, John R., Soong, Allison, Stewart, Anita L., Hays, Steven R., Golden, Jeffrey, Zhuo, Hanjing, Shrestha, Pavan, Gregorich, Steven E.

2019

Overview

Abstract Rationale Although lung transplantation aims to improve health-related quality of life (HRQL), existing instruments fail to include health domains considered important in this population. Objectives We aimed to develop a comprehensive lung transplant–specific instrument to address this shortcoming. Methods We developed a pool of 126 candidate items addressing domains previously identified as important by lung transplant recipients. Through cognitive interviews conducted in 43 transplant recipients, items deemed irrelevant or redundant were dropped. The 84 remaining items were field tested in lung transplant recipients. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the factor structure, and scales were evaluated for internal consistency and construct validity. Measurements and Main Results The 84-item preliminary survey was administered to 201 lung transplant recipients with a mean age of 57.9 (±12.7) years; 46% were female. After factor analyses and internal consistency evaluation, we retained 60 items comprising the Lung Transplant Quality of Life (LT-QOL) Survey. The LT-QOL contains 10 scales that measure symptoms, health perceptions, functioning, and well-being. The confirmatory factor analysis model had good approximate fit (comparative fit index = 0.990; standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.062). Cronbach αs for the 10 scales ranged from 0.75 to 0.95. Interscale correlations were consistent with hypothesized relationships. Subjects with severe chronic lung allograft dysfunction (n = 13) reported significantly worse HRQL than subjects without chronic lung allograft dysfunction (n = 168) on 6 of the 10 LT-QOL scales. Conclusions The LT-QOL is a new, multidimensional instrument that characterizes and quantifies HRQL in lung transplant recipients.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press,American Thoracic Society
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Anxiety / Bone marrow / Chronic illnesses / Female / Heart / Humans / Lung Transplantation - adverse effects / Lung Transplantation - psychology / Lung Transplantation - statistics & numerical data / Lung transplants / Male / Mental depression / Middle Aged / Mortality / Original / Patients / Quality of life / Quality of Life - psychology / Quantitative psychology / Reproducibility of Results / Surveys and Questionnaires / Systematic review / Transplants & implants / Validity / Well being / Young Adult