Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the syncope functional status questionnaire.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) significantly impairs patients' health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).
• Existing measures may not fully capture the specific HR-QoL impact of TLOC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Syncope Functional Status HR-QoL Questionnaire (SFSQ).
• To assess the SFSQ's ability to measure impairment and fear-worry in TLOC patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 503 adult patients presenting with TLOC.
• HR-QoL was measured using the SFSQ and SF-36 at baseline and 1-year follow-up.
• Reliability, validity, and responsiveness were assessed through various statistical analyses.

Main Results:

• The SFSQ demonstrated high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability for its summary scales (IS and FWS).
• The SFSQ showed modest correlations with the SF-36 and discriminated based on TLOC episode frequency and comorbidities.
• Changes in SFSQ scores correlated with changes in health status and recurrence, indicating responsiveness.

Conclusions:

• The SFSQ is a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument for assessing HR-QoL in TLOC patients.
• The SFSQ provides valuable insights into the functional status and psychological impact of TLOC.