A NEW HIV AIDS-TARGETED QUALITY-OF-LIFE (HAT-QOL) INSTRUMENT - DEVELOPMENT, RELIABILITY, AND VALIDITY/

OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this study were to identify quality-of-l ife concerns, as reported by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropo sitive individuals, and to develop a measure to assess these concerns. METHODS. The HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-targeted m easure was developed in two linked studies. In study one, group discus sions with 42 HIV seropositive individuals were used to generate item content for the new measure. In study two, 201 HIV seropositive indivi duals were cross-sectionally studied to identify dimensions and to red uce the number of items of the quality of life questionnaire resulting from study one. RESULTS. Study one subjects (76% male; 66% white; 55% gay/bisexual) identified concerns captured by 76 items. Factor analys is indicated that responses of study two subjects (75% male; 42% white ; 55% gay/bisexual) could be summarized by nine dimensions. Overall fu nction, sexual function, disclosure worries, health worries, financial worries, HIV mastery, life satisfaction, medication concerns, and pro vider trust dimensions were refined by removing items using methods to maximize internal consistency and to minimize item redundancy. No sub stantial ceiling/floor effects existed, except for the provider trust dimension (43% received the highest score possible). All internal cons istency coefficients were greater than or equal to 0.70, except those for the HIV mastery (0.57) and medication concerns (0.51) dimensions, as well as the sexual function dimension (0.56) in the non-AIDS subsam ple. Multitrait/multiitem assessment indicated scaling success rates t hat were high (greater than or equal to 91%) for eight of nine dimensi ons (HIV mastery revealed a lower but modest success rate of 79%). Val idity assessments, using self-reported HIV disease severity and sociod emographic variables, indicated expected relationships for all dimensi ons. CONCLUSIONS. Five dimensions of the new HIV/AIDS-targeted quality of life instrument (overall function, disclosure worries, health worr ies, financial worries, and life satisfaction) exhibited good psychome tric properties, including low ceiling/floor effects, good internal co nsistency, and evidence for construct validity.