IS THE EUROQOL A VALID MEASURE OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER STROKE

Background and Purpose The EuroQol measures aspects of quality of life that are highly relevant to stroke patients. It is short and simple a nd many stroke patients can complete the form without help. However, i ts validity has not been adequately assessed after stroke. We therefor e assessed its concurrent and discriminant validity in a group of pros pectively studied stroke survivors. Methods We assessed the validity o f the EuroQol in a series of 152 patients with stroke who were all vis ited by a study nurse. The nurse gave the patients the EuroQol, the Fr enchay Activities Index, a visual analogue pain scale, and the Hospita l Anxiety and Depression Scale in the form of questionnaires to be sel f-completed where possible. The nurse interviewed the patient directly to assess disability using the Office of Population Censuses and Surv eys Disability scale and Barthel Index. Results The nurse assessed 152 patients; of these 92 were able to complete the EuroQol without help, the remaining 60 could only be assessed by interview. The EuroQol had reasonable concurrent validity; median scores on the relevant standar d instruments varied significantly (and in the appropriate direction) for groups defined by their response to the relevant EuroQol domain. T he EuroQol had reasonable discriminant validity since the responses en abled separation between patients with differing stroke syndromes and stroke severities. Accuracy for predicting outcome after stroke was go od for both self-completed and interview-completed questionnaires. Con clusions The EuroQol appears to have acceptable concurrent and discrim inant validity for the measurement of health-related quality of life a fter stroke. It may be administered by either a questionnaire for self -completion in patients with mild to moderate stroke or by interview i n patients with significant motor deficits.