Responsiveness and sensitivity of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale Danish version

Purpose. To test responsiveness and sensitivity to change of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale Danish version (SSQOL-DK) scores in patients following stroke. Methods. A follow-up study of 150 patients with first-ever stroke was used. Questionnaires on quality of life, fatigue, depression, and functional level were completed. Direction of change was categorised as deterioration, no change or improvement. Proportion of concordant classification with external criteria was assessed. Associations between differences in SSQOL-DK domains and the other instruments were estimated using Spearman's rank order correlation coefficients. Paired t-test was used to assess change in the SSQOL-DK domains in patients affected in that domain. Effect size and standardised response mean (SRM) were used to express domain responsiveness. Results. SSQOL-DK classified concordantly in 42.2 to 58.1%, and misclassified from zero to 31.3%. Changes in SSQOL-DK and in the corresponding measures correlated from (r(s)) 0.08 to -0.58. Fatigue and domain energy in SSQOL-DK were negatively correlated. Effect size ranged from -0.03 to -0.53, SRM from -0.02 to -0.56 reflecting mild-to-moderate responsiveness in eight out of 12 domains. Conclusion. SSQOL-DK is mildly to moderately responsive and sensitive and can be used for descriptive purposes over time in groups of patients with mild stroke.