The NutriQoL (R) questionnaire for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with home enteral nutrition (HEN): validation and first results

Abstract

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides a global view of the state of health of a patient receiving home enteral nutrition (HEN).Objective: To evaluate the HRQoL of patients receiving HEN using the NutriQoL (R) questionnaire, a specific instrument regardless of the underlying disease and route of administration.Materials and methods: Observational, prospective and multicentre study conducted in the context of the validation and assessment of the NutriQoL (R) questionnaire's psychometric properties.Results: One-hundred-and-forty individuals [disease: cancer (58.6%), malabsorption and other (27.1%), neurological (13.6%); HEN: supplement (61.4%), sole source of nutrition (35.7%); administration route: oral (54.3%), ostomy (31.4%), nasoenteric tube (12.1%)] participated. NutriQoL (R) was reliable [ICC: 0.88 (95% CI: 0.80-0.93); Cronbach's alpha: 0.77 (1st visit) and 0.83 (2nd visit)], valid (significant Rho), lowly sensitive to changes (effect size 0.23), can be completed by either patients or caregivers (ICC: 0.82). The mean HRQoL (SD) with NutriQoL (R) was 14.98 (14.86), EQ-5D tariff: 53(0.25), EQ-5D VAS: 54.15(20.64) and COOP/WONCA charts: 23.32(5.66). HRQoL with NutriQoL (R) was better (p