Development, initial validation and reliability testing of a web-based, generic feline health-related quality of life instrument

Noble, C. E., Wiseman-Orr, L. M. , Scott, M. E. , Nolan, A. M. and Reid, J. (2019) Development, initial validation and reliability testing of a web-based, generic feline health-related quality of life instrument. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 21(2), pp. 84-94. (doi: 10.1177/1098612X18758176) (PMID:29463202)

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a valid, reliable web-based, generic feline health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) questionnaire instrument to measure the affective impact of chronic disease. Methods: A large initial item pool, obtained through interviews with cat owners, was reduced using predetermined criteria, survey scores for relevance and clarity, and the ability of individual items to discriminate between healthy and sick cats when owners completed a prototype questionnaire. Using these data, factor analysis was used to derive a scoring algorithm and provide evidence for factorial validity. Validity was demonstrated further in a field trial using a ‘known groups’ approach (sick vs healthy cats will have a different HRQoL profile, and the HRQoL profile of cats will deteriorate as comorbidities increase). Test–retest reliability was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: In total, 165 items were reduced to 20 and, on the basis of a factor analysis that explained 72.3% of the variation in scores input by 71 owners of 30 healthy and 41 sick cats using the prototype, these were allocated to three domains (vitality, comfort and emotional wellbeing [EWB]) with a scoring algorithm derived using item loadings. Subsequently, the owners of 36 healthy and 58 sick cats completed one or two (n = 48) assessments. Median scores (healthy vs sick) for all domains were significantly different (P <0.001), 78% of cats were correctly classified as healthy or sick and for comorbidities the correlation coefficients were moderate (vitality 0.64; comfort 0.63; EWB 0.50). Test–retest reliability was good (ICC vitality 0.635; comfort 0.716; EWB 0.853). Conclusions and relevance: This study provides initial evidence for the validity and reliability of a novel HRQoL instrument to aid the assessment and management of chronic diseases of cats.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: We acknowledge Scottish Enterprise for the award of a SMART grant, which enabled us to undertake the study, and Boehringer Ingelheim for additional financial support.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Scott, Professor Marian and Wiseman-Orr, Dr Lesley and Reid, Professor Jacky
• Authors: Noble, C. E., Wiseman-Orr, L. M., Scott, M. E., Nolan, A. M., and Reid, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Statistics
• Journal Name: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 1098-612X
• ISSN (Online): 1532-2750
• Published Online: 21 February 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 21:84-94
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher