The SEIQoL-DW is a valid method for measuring individual quality of life in stroke survivors attending a secondary prevention clinic.

OBJECTIVES

This paper examines the applicability and construct validity of the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weight (SEIQoL-DW) for measuring quality of life in stroke survivors living at home that attend a secondary prevention clinic.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Forty-six individuals attending a secondary prevention clinic following a stroke or transient ischaemic attack participated in a semi-structured interview to complete a range of outcome measures. Assessments of cognitive impairment, disability, and handicap were conducted using the Mini mental State Examination (MMSE), Barthel Index (BI), and Rankin Scale (RS). Measures to assess quality of life included perceived health status (PHS), Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the SEIQoL-DW. The construct validity of the SEIQoL-DW was assessed by correlation with the other measures.

RESULTS

According to the cues elicited from the SEIQoL-DW, participants nominated 'relationships with family and friends' as the most important life domain, followed by 'social and leisure activities', and 'health'. Spearman's rho correlation coefficients demonstrated significant relationships between the SEIQoL-DW index scores, PHS (r = 0.35, p = 0.016), VAMS (r = 0.419, p = 0.004), and the HADS anxiety (r = -0.546, p < 0.0001) and depression (r = -0.701, p < 0.0001) subscale scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The SEIQoL-DW demonstrated reasonable construct validity for use in assessing individual quality of life in a group of individuals following stroke or TIA that attend a secondary prevention clinic.