Conducting Quality of Life Research in People With Coronary Artery Disease in Non–English-Speaking Countries: Conceptual and Operationalization Issues

Translation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Self-care of Hypertension Inventory for Thais With Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Self-care is essential for treating hypertension by lowering and controlling blood pressure, to ultimately reduce cardiovascular disease. A valid and reliable hypertension self-care measure is needed for the Thai population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to translate a cross-cultural adaptation of the Self-care of Hypertension Inventory (SC-HI) into Thai and conduct a pretest of the Thai SC-HI (version 2.0).

METHODS

We performed a methodological study. The stepped approach included translation of the original version of the SC-HI into Thai (forward), synthesis of translation, translation of the Thai version back to English, expert committee review, and pretesting. Pretest phase for feasibility, interobserver agreement, and temporal stability tests were performed in 140 patients with hypertension.

RESULTS

Translation equivalence was obtained between the Thai and the original US versions. The item-level content validity index was rated by 9 experts; the relevance, clarity, simplicity, and ambiguity criteria were all 1.00. Similarly, the scale-level content validity indices were 1.00 for the overall instrument and the self-care maintenance, self-care management, and self-care confidence scales. The item-level intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) had a range of 0.97 to 1.00 for interobserver agreement and 0.95 to 1.00 for test-retest, respectively. The interobserver ICCs were 0.99 for the total scale and 3 separate scales. The test-retest ICCs were 0.99 for the total scale, with a range of 0.97 to 0.99 for the three separate scales.

CONCLUSION

The process of cross-cultural adaptation warranted validity and reliability testing of the Thai SC-HI. Psychometric testing of this instrument is needed for evaluation in a large sample of individuals with hypertension.

Factors influencing readmission among Thais with myocardial infarction

Background

Readmission among patients with myocardial infarction is costly, and it has become a marker of quality of care. Therefore, factors related to readmission warrant examination.

Objective

This study aimed at examining factors influencing readmission in Thai with myocardial infarction.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with 200 participants randomly selected from five regional hospitals in Thailand. All research tools used indicated acceptable validity and reliability. Linear Structural Relationship version 8.72 was used for the data analysis.

Results

The findings showed that the hypothesized model with social support, depression, symptom severity, comorbidity, and quality of life could explain 4% (R² = 0.04) of the variance in readmission (χ² = 1.39, df = 2, p < 0.50, χ²/df = 0.69, GIF = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.01, and AGFI = 0.98). Symptom severity was the most influential factor that had a positive and direct effect on the readmission rate (0.06, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings serve as an input to decrease readmission in patients with myocardial infarction by reducing the symptom severity and comorbidity and promoting a better quality of life.

Integrated Yoga Practice in Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a detrimental noncommunicable disease, which is increasing due to sedentary lifestyle and urbanization in the young population. It is further elevated with risk factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, an increase in triglycerides, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and so on, which manifests as atherosclerotic disease. Yoga-based lifestyle intervention is a noninvasive effective treatment method to control and prevent cardiac risk factors in CAD patients. Yoga has been used in India as a therapeutic method to manage hypertension and other chronic disorders and is fast gaining popularity as an effective means for the alleviation of stress, improvement of fitness, and enhancement of well-being. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of introducing the integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) in a cardiac rehabilitation center in India and understand its usefulness in improving the cardiac function and managing the cardiac risk factors in acute myocardial infarction patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Methods and Design: Cardiac patients were randomized to a yoga-practicing group (n = 33) and a control group (n = 33). The yoga-practicing group was instructed to attend three supervised IAYT classes 3 days per week for 12 weeks at the hospital yoga center. The control group received standard care that included pharmacologic treatment and the instructions of the cardiologist. The outcome measures were assessed at baseline (T1 = 0) and completion (T2 = 3 months). The primary outcome measure was the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in LVEF (U = 420.500, p value = 0.218) between the two groups. However, the yoga-practicing group showed significant reduction in depression (Cardiac Depression Scale [CDS], U = 71, p value = 0.0), anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HAM-A], U = 128, p value = 0.0), and a significant increase in quality of life (QOL) scores (Duke Activity Status Index [DASI], U = 146, p value = 0.0; and metabolic equivalents (METs), U = 136, p value = 0.0) at 3 months compared to control. Overall, the CAD patients practicing yoga showed a favorable profile compared to control individuals on CDS, HAM-A, DASI, and MET outcomes. Control and yoga practicing groups did not differ significantly in the lipid levels. Conclusion: This study indicated that the integration of yoga practice in a cardiac rehabilitation program is feasible and has no added benefit in improving the cardiac function. However, the addition of yoga to cardiac rehabilitation may be beneficial in reducing depression and anxiety and improving QOL in patients.

Analysis and Evaluation of Conceptual Model for Health-Related Quality of Life Employing Fawcett and DeSanto-Madeya's Critique Framework

Health-related quality of life is increasingly used as a predictor in nursing research and practice because its multidimensional constructs encompass the holistic spectrum of care. This article comprehensively analyzes and evaluates the conceptual model of health-related quality of life of Ferrans and colleagues using Fawcett and Desanto-Madeya's 2013 framework. The model encompasses all relevant concepts and propositions in its theoretical foundation while maintaining consistency with the nursing metaparadigm. Also, the model has comprehensive content, appropriate context, and social and theoretical significance. To maximize the model's empirical and pragmatic adequacy, researchers should carefully define the variables associated with each concept.