Measuring the effects of Meniere's disease: Results of the Patient-Oriented Severity Index (MD POSI) version 1

We describe the development and initial psychometric testing of a new self- report instrument for quantifying the impact of Meniere's disease (MD) on p atients' lives: the Meniere's Disease Patient-Oriented Severity Index (MD P OSI). Eighty-five volunteers with chronic MD took a self-administered MD PO SI. The internal consistency form of reliability was determined by calculat ing Cronbach's alpha. The relationship between total MD POSI problem severi ty scores and responses to a global question concerning the degree to which his or her MD had changed the patient's life assessed construct-related va lidity. The total problem severity score yielded excellent reliability (Cro nbach's alpha = .928). No significant age or gender effects were seen. A hi ghly statistically significant association was noted between total problem severity scores and the degree to which the patient's life had been changed by his or her MD (Spearman rank correlation =.526, p <.0001), indicating e xcellent construct-related validity. The material included in the initial q uestionnaire provides important information that can be used clinically to quantify the impact of MD on patients' health status. A beta version of the instrument is in the process of validation and determination of its sensit ivity to change in health status.