Quality of life (Spain and France): Validation of the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ)

• Published in: Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 425 - 429
• Main Authors: LOZANO, As, LAUNOIS, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Barcelona Prous 01-09-2002
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular system; Chronic Disease; France; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Muscle Cramp - psychology; Pain Measurement - methods; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Physical Fitness - psychology; Quality of Life - psychology; Reproducibility of Results; Spain; Surveys and Questionnaires; Venous Insufficiency - psychology; France; Europe; Spain; Vascular disease; Human; Validation; Evaluation; Chronic; Questionnaire; Evaluation scale; Translating; Cardiovascular disease; Venous incompetence; Venous disease; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0379-0355
• DOI: 10.1358/mf.2002.24.7.696544

A health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessment is particularly necessary for patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), as is an assessment of the objective signs (edema, dilated veins, ulceration and other lesions). A comprehensive 3-year research program was undertaken in France to construct and validate the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ), a questionnaire designed specifically to evaluate the quality of life for CVI sufferers. The next step was to implement a program of cross-cultural validation in several countries. Translation into Spanish was undertaken following international guidelines. Face validity was verified with a pilot test among 12 Spanish patients. Psychometric validation was performed in Spain (n = 476 patients with CVI). The Spanish CIVIQ demonstrated very good internal consistency, high reproducibility and responsiveness, as well as longitudinal clinical validity. It appears to be a valuable instrument for assessing improvement in patient quality of life in response to both therapy in clinical practice and clinical trials.