PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION OF THE REVISED FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION (FAHI) QUALITY-OF-LIFE INSTRUMENT

The revised Functional Assessment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infe ction (FAHI) quality of life (QoL) instrument has been updated and exp anded to provide more complete and accurate coverage of human immune d eficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)related QoL. Factor analysis and the Rasch measurement model were used to det ermine a new subscale structure for the FAHI. The content of these sub scales, including physical well-being (ten items, alpha = 0.91), funct ion and global well-being (13 items, alpha = 0.86), emotional well-bei ng/living with HIV (10 items, alpha = 0.82), social well-being (eight items, alpha = 0.73), and cognitive functioning (three items; alpha = 0.75), reflect both general illness-and HIV/AIDS-specific QoL concerns : a total QoL score can also be calculated for the FAHI (44 items, alp ha = 0.91). Psychometric evaluation revealed good internal consistency reliability for the FAHI and its subscales. In addition, construct va lidity, known groups validity and sensitivity to change were demonstra ted by significant associations between the FAHI and additional indica tors of functional status, psychological symptoms, stress and illness severity. In summary, the FAHI is a psychometrically sound instrument that captures multiple important dimensions of HIV/AIDS-related QoL. I t is brief, easy to administer and score, has been translated into nin e languages other than English and is appropriate for use in clinical trials and clinical practice.