Development & psychometric properties of the social dignity questionnaire in heart failure patients

Heart failure not only affacts the patients but also their families and social networks. This study was conducted to evaluate the development & psychometric properties of the Social Dignity Questionnaire (SDQ) in heart failure patients. This study is an exploratory research of questionnaire design type. Twenty two patients with class II to IV heart failure (New York Heart Association Functional Classification) were chosen through purposive sampling from selected hospitals of Tehran، and semi-structured interviews were conducted with them. Qualitative content analysis was performed to analyze the interviews. The primary items were developed based on the findings obtained from the interviews، literature and designed questionnaires about social dignity. Content validity and construct validity were determined in 130 patients with heart failure. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 19. Through face validity and content validity analysis، 16 out of 101 primary items were removed. As a result of exploratory factor analysis، 2 items with factor loading less than 0. 5 were deleted، and 6 were removed due to inclusion in other factors. The following five factors were extracted: family communication and support، social communication and support، health care communication and support، burden to others (physical، emotional and social)، and burden to others (economic). Reliability of the Social Dignity Questionnaire (SDQ) was calculated to be 0. 97 by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient، and 0. 99 by using split-half method. Considering the acceptable validity and reliability of the questionnaire in the present study، its application can be useful in planning support for patients and improving their treatment and care. The questionnaire may also be helpful in conducting further research related to dignity in different patients