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Validation of the Sign and Symptom Check‐List for Persons with HIV Disease (SSC‐HIV)
Author(s) -
Holzemer William L.,
Henry Suzanne B.,
Nokes Kathleen M.,
Corless Inge B.,
Brown MarieAnnette,
PowellCope Gail M.,
Turner Joan G.,
Inouye Jillian
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1999.01204.x
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , medicine , construct validity , varimax rotation , nausea , psychometrics , psychology , clinical psychology
Validation of the Sign and Symptom Check‐List for Persons with HIV Disease (SSC‐HIV) Symptom management for persons living with HIV disease is recognized as an extremely important component of care management. This article reports the validation of a new sign and symptom assessment tool designed to assess the intensity of HIV‐related symptoms using two samples (study 1: n =247; study 2: n =686) of people living with HIV disease. Study 1 data were collected between 1994 and 1996 before the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Study 2 data were collected between 1997 and 1998 after the wide adoption of HAART therapy. The initial version of the Sign and Symptom Check‐List for Persons with HIV Disease (SSC‐HIV) included 41 signs and symptoms. This scale was submitted to a principal components factor analysis with a varimax rotation. The final solution reports six factors explaining 68·9% of the variance. The six symptom clusters (factors), the number of items in the factor, and the Cronbach alpha reliability estimates were: malaise/weakness/fatigue (six items, alpha=0·90); confusion/distress (four items, alpha=0·90); fever/chills (four items, alpha=0·85); gastrointestinal discomfort (four items, alpha=0·81); shortness of breath (three items, alpha=0·79); and nausea/vomiting (three items, alpha=0·77). These six factors have strong reliability estimates and a stable factor structure that supports the construct validity of the 26‐item instrument. Additional evidence supports the concurrent validity of the scale as well as its sensitivity to change over time. The final version of the SSC‐HIV is a 26‐item scale available for use by clinicians and researchers to measure the patient’s self‐report of HIV‐related signs and symptoms.