CLINHAQ scale - Validation of a Hebrew version in patients with fibromyalgia

Assessment of health status in patients with rheumatic disease, including f ibromyalgia (FM), using structured questionnaires has become an important a pproach to evaluate treatment and outcome. The objectives of this study wer e to validate a translated version of the Clinical Health Assessment Questi onnaire (CLINHAQ) to be used by Hebrew-speaking populations, and specifical ly to evaluate its usefulness in fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). The CLINHAQ wa s translated into Hebrew and administered to 90 women with FM along with th e Hebrew versions of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Qu ality of Life (QOL) Scale. The CLINHAQ includes scales of functional disabi lity, helplessness, anxiety and depression, as well as assessment of curren t health status and satisfaction with this. All subjects were asked about t he presence and severity (assessed by visual analogue scale) of current FM symptoms (pain, fatigue, anxiety etc.); a count of 18 tender points was con ducted by thumb palpation, and tenderness thresholds were measured by dolor imetry. Test-retest reliability was assessed by Pearson correlation coeffic ients, and internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha coeffic ient of reliability. Construct validity was tested by correlating the CLINH AQ items with measures of symptom severity, count of tender point, tenderne ss thresholds, physical functioning measured by FIQ, and with a score of QO L. Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.82 to 0.99, and Cronb ach's alpha coefficients from 0.725 to 0.929. Significant moderate to high correlations were obtained between most subscales of CLINHAQ and measures o f physical functioning, quality of Life and severity of FM symptoms. In con clusion, the CLINHAQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring healt h status and physical functioning in Israeli women with FM.