TITLE:
Agreement between People with Aphasia and Their Proxies on Health-Related Quality of Life after Stroke, Using the Greek SAQOL-39g
AUTHORS:
Maria Ignatiou, Vasiliki Christaki, Evripidis Nicolaos Chelas, Evangelia A. Efstratiadou, Katerina Hilari
KEYWORDS:
Proxy; Stroke Outcome; Health-Related Quality Of Life; Aphasia; SAQOL-39g
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.3 No.9,
September
25,
2012
ABSTRACT: Health related quality of life (HRQL) measures are increasingly used to evaluate stroke interventions. People with severe aphasia after stroke may be unable to self-report on such measures, necessitating the use of proxy respondents. This study explored the level of agreement between people with aphasia and their proxies on the Greek Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 generic version (SAQOL-39g) and whether this agreement was influenced by proxy levels of depression and carer strain. Methods: Participants were people with aphasia (PWA) who were over six months post-stroke and medically stable. Proxies were nominated by the PWA and had to see them at least twice a week. PWA completed the Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test and the Greek SAQOL-39g. Proxies completed the Greek SAQOL-39g proxy version, the General Health Questionnaire-12 and the Caregiver Strain Index. Results: 23 pairs of people with aphasia and their proxies took part. Proxies rated people with aphasia as more severely affected than they rated themselves. The difference was significant for the overall scale and the physical and communication domains (p