Development and validation of participation and positive psychologic function measures for stroke survivors.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of Neurologic Quality of Life (NeuroQOL) item banks that assess quality-of-life (QOL) domains not typically included in poststroke measures. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of item responses to selected NeuroQOL domains. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling stroke survivors (n=111) who were at least 12 months poststroke. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five measures developed for 3 NeuroQoL domains ability to participate in social activities, satisfaction with participation in social activities, and positive psychologic function. RESULTS: A single bank was developed for the positive psychologic function domain, but 2 banks each were developed for the ability-to-participate and satisfaction-with-participation domains. The resulting item banks showed good psychometric properties and external construct validity with correlations with the legacy instruments, ranging from .53 to .71. Using these measures, stroke survivors in this sample reported an overall high level of QOL. CONCLUSIONS: The NeuroQoL-derived measures are promising and valid methods for assessing aspects of QOL not typically measured in this population.