Tool-Description

The KDQOL-36 is a tool designed to measure the quality of life specifically for patients with kidney disease. It consists of 36 questions covering two main areas:
General quality of life (using the SF-12 Health Survey), which includes physical and mental health dimensions.
Kidney disease-specific impacts on daily life, physical and emotional well-being, and patient satisfaction with treatment and disease management.
The questions address topics such as physical health, mental health, the role of kidney disease in a patient’s life, and satisfaction with treatment.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data collected from the KDQOL-36 are quantitative and are analyzed to determine the impact of kidney disease on the patient’s quality of life. Responses to each question are rated using Likert scales, and the data can be analyzed using statistical methods such as:
Mean analysis to compare quality of life between different patient groups.
Factor analysis to identify the dimensions of quality of life most affected.
Regression analysis to study relationships between quality of life and factors such as age, disease stage, and types of treatments.
The use of this data allows clinicians to tailor treatments and improve care based on the specific needs of patients.

Purpose

The main goal of the KDQOL-36 is to provide a reliable tool to measure the quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease. This tool helps clinicians and researchers understand how kidney disease and treatments affect daily life, mental health, and well-being. It also aids in evaluating the effectiveness of treatments by considering the subjective experiences of patients.

Calibration

The calibration of the KDQOL-36 includes:
Reliability analysis to assess the internal consistency of subscales, such as calculating Cronbach’s alpha.
Factor analysis to verify the dimensions measured by the scale and ensure the validity of the results.
Cross-validation to ensure the scale works reliably across different populations of patients.

Bibliography

Hays, R. D., Kallich, J. D., Mapes, D. L., Coons, S. J., & Carter, W. B. (1994). Development of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) instrument. Quality of Life Research, 3(5), 329-338.
Cameron, J. I., Whiteside, C., Katz, J., & Devins, G. M. (2000). Differences in quality of life across renal replacement therapies: A meta-analytic comparison. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 35(4), 629-637.
Peipert, J. D., Bentler, P. M., Klicko, K., & Hays, R. D. (2018). Psychometric Properties of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-Item Short Form Survey (KDQOL-36) in the United States. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 71(4), 461-468.