A short version of the post-COVID-19 condition stigma questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Research

Background:

• Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition, can lead to significant stigma.
• Existing stigma questionnaires, like the 40-item PCCSQ, can be burdensome for patients experiencing fatigue and cognitive difficulties.
• A shorter, validated instrument is needed for efficient stigma assessment in clinical and research settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a condensed version of the Post-COVID-19 Condition Stigma Questionnaire (PCCSQ).
• To maintain the original questionnaire's factor structure, reliability, and validity in the shorter form.
• To create a more accessible tool for assessing long COVID-related stigma.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted.
• A 12-item subset was selected from the original 40-item PCCSQ, representing its six factors.
• The 12-item PCCSQ (PCCSQ-12) was administered to 99 long COVID patients, and its psychometric properties were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The PCCSQ-12 retained the six-factor structure of long COVID stigma.
• The instrument demonstrated a mean discrimination index of 0.40.
• High internal consistency (α=0.89) and split-half reliability (0.86) were observed, with predictable correlations to related variables.

Conclusions:

• The PCCSQ-12 is a feasible, reliable, and valid instrument.
• It effectively assesses patients' experiences of long COVID stigma.
• This shorter questionnaire reduces respondent burden and enhances ease of administration for clinicians and researchers.