Validity of an instrument to measure the impact of valve heart disease on the patient's daily life.

AIM: This study was to verify the psychometric properties of the Heart Valve Disease Impact on daily life, an instrument for measuring the impact of illness in the daily life of the heart valve disease patient, related to its construct validity, criterion-related validity and reliability.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty heart valve disease outpatients were enrolled. Data were submitted to descriptive analysis, factor analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

RESULTS: The factor analysis generated four factors that explained 58% of the variance in response to the Heart Valve Disease Impact on daily life. Weak to moderate correlation was measured between the Heart Valve Disease Impact on daily life total score and two of its factors and the General Measure of Impact of illness, indicating criterion-related validity. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.74 was measured.

CONCLUSION: The results of the current study confirm both the construct and criterion validity and the internal consistency of the Heart Valve Disease Impact on daily life. Future studies are necessary to confirm its reliability and provide a better understanding of the meaning of the Heart Valve Disease Impact on daily life dimensions, as well as to evaluate its response to health interventions.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The Heart Valve Disease Impact on daily life could be a useful instrument to measure the impact of heart valve disease and to evaluate the response to health interventions.