Psychometric properties of the Duke Health Profile in a neuromuscular disease population.

Background: Quality of life is a subjective point of view of the patient. Its measurement is complex, but useful to personalize interventions and to evaluate the effect of care, particularly in physical medicine.
Aim: To determine the psychometric properties of the Duke Health Profile (DHP) in neuromuscular disease. This instrument was chosen for its excellent acceptability and its ability to evaluate ten dimensions in a short administration.
Design: Prospective multicentre study.
Setting: Neuromuscular patients in centers in Reims, Dijon and Besancon.
Population: Patients over 18 years with neuromuscular disorders.
Methods: Successive inclusion between 2002 and 2005; DHP administration on two occasions, 15 days apart; collection of socio-demographic data. Statistical analyses using SAS SOFTWARE 9.3.
Results: One hundred thirty-nine patients were included. The acceptability of the DHP was excellent. The disability dimension showed marked ceiling effect. Reliability was acceptable (Cronbach=0.54-0.73, except for the social health dimension [0.40], ICC=0.55-0.83). The anxiety and depression dimensions had discriminant properties in distinguishing patients with different functional status.
Conclusion: The DHP is suitable and valid for patients with neuromuscular disease, with some reservations for the social health and disability dimensions.
Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: This tool can be used in daily clinical practice and in research.