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Cited by 744Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of LifeCancer survivorship and careEsophageal Cancer Research and Treatment

Is a single-item visual analogue scale as valid, reliable and responsive as multi-item scales in measuring quality of life?

de Boer, A.G.E.M., van Lanschot, J.J.B., Stalmeier, P.F.M., van Sandick, J.W., Hulscher, J.B.F., de Haes, J.C.J.M., Sprangers, M.A.G.·2004·Quality of Life Research
DOI 10.1023/b:qure.0000018499.64574.1f
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Abstract

Purpose To compare the validity, reliability and responsiveness of a single, global quality of life question to multi-item scales. Method Data were obtained from 83 consecutive patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing either transhiatal or transthoracic oesophagectomy. Quality of life was measured at baseline, 5 weeks, 3 and 12 months post-operatively with a single-item Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100, the multi-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-20 (MOS SF-20) and Rotterdam Symptom Check-List (RSCL). Convergent and discriminant validity, test-retest reliability and both distribution-based and anchor-based responsiveness were evaluated. Major findings At baseline and at 5 weeks, the VAS showed high correlations with the MOS SF-20 health perceptions scale (r = 0.70 and 0.72) and moderate to high correlations with all other subscales of the MOS SF-20 and RSCL (r = 0.29-0.70). The test-retest reliability intra-class correlation for the VAS was 0.87. At 5 weeks post-operatively, the distribution-based responsiveness was moderate for the VAS (standardised response mean: -0.47; effect size: -0.56), high for the physical subscales of the MOS SF-20 and RSCL (-1.08 to -1.51) and low for the psychological subscales (0.11 to -0.25). Five weeks post-operatively, anchor-based responsiveness was highest for the VAS (r = 0.54). Conclusion The VAS is an instrument with good validity, excellent reliability, moderate distribution-based responsiveness and good a…

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Authors
de Boer, A. G. E. M., van Lanschot, J. J. B., Stalmeier, P. F. M., van Sandick, J. W., Hulscher, J. B. F., de Haes, J. C. J. M., & Sprangers, M. A. G.
Affiliations
  • Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
  • Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Quality of Life Research
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2004-03
Volume
13
Issue
2
Pages
311-320
ISSN
  • 0962-9343 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2649
DOI
10.1023/b:qure.0000018499.64574.1f
OpenAlex
W2147145155
Cited by
743
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 29
FWCI
39.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Quality of Life Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment
Keywords
global quality of life, esophageal adenocarcinoma, esophagectomy, Rotterdam Symptom Checklist, responsiveness, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, postoperative quality of life
MeSH terms
Adenocarcinoma, Adult, Aged, Esophageal Neoplasms, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Pain Measurement, Quality of Life, Esophagectomy, Sickness Impact Profile

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