The Nottingham Health Profile: Score distribution, internal consistency and validity in asthma and COPD patients

This cross-sectional study among patients with asthma or Chronic Obstructiv e Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in general practice examined the psychometric pr operties of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). From 380 asthma patients a nd 170 COPD patients, data were obtained on the NHP, subjective measurement s (i.e. sleep disturbances, problems in performing household activities, dy spnoea) and more objective measurements (peak expiratory flow rate, consult ation rate, comorbidity). These data were used to compute score distributio ns, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha-coefficient) and construct valid ity. Score distributions were very skewed, with more than 50% of the patien ts achieving the best score. The internal consistency was moderate in the a sthma group (mean alpha = 0.68) and acceptable in the COPD group (mean alph a = 0.74). Acceptable construct validity was found in both groups. Correlat ions between the NHP and the subjective measurements were, in general, stat istically significant and higher than between the NHP and the more objectiv e measurements. In conclusion, acceptable internal consistency and construc t validity implies that the NHP can be used in cross-sectional studies conc erning asthma and COPD patients in general practice, and in studies compari ng these patients with other patient populations. Further research on the r esponsiveness of the NHP is needed to justify its use in longitudinal studi es.