Test-Retest Reliability of Ukrainian Version of the Haemo-Qol Questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Today psychometric characteristics of Ukrainian version of the questionnaire Haemo-QoL remain insufficiently researched. This publication describes the procedure and results of the test-retest reliability of this questionnaire in children with hemophilia A. Objectives: Study the test-retest reliability of the Ukrainian version of the Haemo-QoL questionnaire for assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with hemophilia A, and determine the possibility of its use in practical and theoretical medicine in terms of time reliability. Methods: The quality of life assessment (QoLA) was performed using the correspondence method, by interviewing 32 children with hemophilia A (self-report) and 32 parents of the children (proxy-report). The questioning was conducted twice at intervals of 4-6 weeks (primary test and re-test). The Haemo-QoL questionnaire version of age group I (4-7 years old), II (8-12 years old) or age group III (13-16 years) was used to measure the quality of life in children with hemophilia; and three versions were used for parents of children of corresponding age groups. These interviews were analyzed, the correlation between the data of primary test and re-test was determined using Spearman's rho, Pearson correlation coefficients, Wilcoxon’s W criterion, Cohen's d effect size was determined for separate comparisons. Results: HRQoL indices are not statistically different between tests on all scales (p>0.05), except for the “Family” and “Others” scales (p<0.05). Total HRQoL is statistically different (p=0.0013), however, with a median difference of 0.25 only and an average absolute difference variability of 1.67 ± 1.51 (5.42 ± 2.83%). Total HRQoL in parent versions did not change statistically, unlike the children’s versions, but the difference between the tests was only 1.32 and Cohen’s d ES - 0.08. For versions Ip, IIp, IIIc/p there was no statistical difference, the versions Ic and II statistically differed (p=0.038; t=-2.39 and p=0.0022; t=-3.98, respectively) with a mean difference of 2.0 and 1.6, respectively. Conclusion: The Ukrainian version of the Haemo-QoL questionnaire has sufficient test-retest reliability for quantitative dynamic reflection HRQoL in patients with haemophilia A.