Skip to main content

A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wang, JY; Hart, SL; Lee, J; Berian, JR; McCrea, GL; Varma, MG
Published in: Dis Colon Rectum
August 2009

PURPOSE: Few existing measures assess constipation-specific quality of life. This study sought to develop a valid and reliable quality-of-life measure for constipation. METHODS: First, we created a preliminary instrument that assessed quality-of-life domains affected by constipation: body image, eating, mood, and relationships with others. We conducted focus groups both with patients with constipation seeking treatment and the health care providers who treat them. Next, a 59-item questionnaire was given to 240 subjects with constipation (83% female) and 103 healthy volunteers (63% female). Test-retest reliability and discriminant, convergent, and divergent validity were assessed. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed four domains: Social Impairment (five items), Distress (six items), Eating Habits (three items), and Bathroom Attitudes (four items). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability for all subscales was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.87). All domains discriminated well between subjects with constipation and healthy volunteers (P < 0.001). Convergent validity was excellent: all subscales correlated highly with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Scale total score (P < 0.001) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 physical component and mental component summary scores (P < 0.001). Scores from our Constipation-Related Quality of Life measure were not significantly correlated with the Social Desirability Scale, demonstrating divergent validity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the reliability and validity of the Constipation-Related Quality of Life measure. Future validation of the Constipation-Related Quality of Life measure for assessing changes in quality of life in response to treatments for constipation is needed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Dis Colon Rectum

DOI

EISSN

1530-0358

Publication Date

August 2009

Volume

52

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1434 / 1442

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Surgery
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Quality of Life
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Wang, J. Y., Hart, S. L., Lee, J., Berian, J. R., McCrea, G. L., & Varma, M. G. (2009). A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life. Dis Colon Rectum, 52(8), 1434–1442. https://doi.org/10.1007/DCR.0b013e3181a51196
Wang, Jennifer Y., Stacey L. Hart, Janet Lee, Julia R. Berian, G Lindsay McCrea, and Madhulika G. Varma. “A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life.Dis Colon Rectum 52, no. 8 (August 2009): 1434–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/DCR.0b013e3181a51196.
Wang JY, Hart SL, Lee J, Berian JR, McCrea GL, Varma MG. A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Aug;52(8):1434–42.
Wang, Jennifer Y., et al. “A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life.Dis Colon Rectum, vol. 52, no. 8, Aug. 2009, pp. 1434–42. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/DCR.0b013e3181a51196.
Wang JY, Hart SL, Lee J, Berian JR, McCrea GL, Varma MG. A valid and reliable measure of constipation-related quality of life. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Aug;52(8):1434–1442.

Published In

Dis Colon Rectum

DOI

EISSN

1530-0358

Publication Date

August 2009

Volume

52

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1434 / 1442

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Surgery
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Quality of Life
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female