Developmental and Initial Validation of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Symptom Inference Scale

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a chronic illness that produces multiple symptoms and impairs quality of life.

The purpose of this study was to describe the initial psychometric properties of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Symptom Interference Scale (PAHSIS).

Participants completed a sociodemographic and clinical data form: the PAHSIS and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and Pearson r correlations.

PCA revealed a 3-factor solution: Cardiopulmonary, Weary, and Gastric. Correlations between the 3 factors and the SF-36 subscales and composite summary scores ranged from acceptable to high.

These findings support the initial validity and reliability of the PAHSIS. Nursing can use the PAHSIS to assess the impact of patient symptoms to deploy effective, targeted interventions.