Quality of Life and Health Knowledge Item 28: Results from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Innovative Models of Care

Knowledge Item: CA-Quality of Life and Health-28
Reliability of Total Symptom Severity

A composite total symptom severity score was formed by summing the 12 symptom severity ratings of the SF-21 (Module 17). The coefficient alpha internal consistency coefficient is .89 for the sum suggesting the total score is a good overall summary from this instrument.

Using factor analysis, the one-factor maximum-likelihood solution was a relatively good one for the data – explaining 47% of the total variance in the variables – again suggesting that there is a single factor among the symptom severity scores and that the construct of "general symptom severity" is a good summary for this instrument for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

The total symptom severity score appears to measure a general factor of symptom severity.

In interpreting this Knowledge Item, and all others in this section on Quality of Life and Health, remember that the ratings of quality of life, symptom impact, and healthcare utilization are based on patient self reports.

The following diagrams show the relationship of a few selected pairs of symptoms. The diagrams are a way of showing how correlated the individual symptoms are to one another.

Click graphic to expand. (IE 6 users may also have to click the graphic expansion button in the new window.)

Knowledge Item Citation: Huba, G. J., Melchior, L. A., Panter, A. T., and the HRSA/HAB SPNS Cooperative Agreement Steering Committee (1998-2001). Knowledge Item: CA-Quality of Life and Health-28 from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements on Innovative Models of Care, The Measurement Group Knowledge Base on HIV/AIDS Care, Online at www.TheMeasurementGroup.com.

Last Updated: March 25, 2005; data through June 15, 1999; analyses conducted November 1999 and June 2000.

Knowledge Base Citation: The Knowledge Base and this Knowledge Item were designed and authored by G. J. Huba, Ph.D.; in collaboration with Lisa A. Melchior, Ph.D.; A. T. Panter, Ph.D.; and the staff of The Measurement Group. Cite this work as "Huba, G. J., Melchior, L. A., and Panter, A. T. (1998 - 2001). The Measurement Group Knowledge Base on HIV/AIDS Care. On the World Wide Web: http://www.TheMeasurementGroup.com."

Questions or Comments: Contact The Measurement Group.

Use of Knowledge Base Information: Acceptable Uses and Limitations.

Collaborators from Participating Projects: Cooperative Agreement Steering Committee 1999.

Participating Projects: This Knowledge Base is based on the service delivery experiences of 27 Cooperative Agreement Projects on Innovative Models of HIV/AIDS Care. These projects and the Evaluation and Dissemination Center which produced this Knowledge Base were funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) as Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) between 1994 and 1999. Click the Model Programs button above for descriptions of the projects that contributed to this specific Knowledge Item, a list of key staff, and project grant numbers.

Why This Evaluation was Conducted: Editorial.

More Information: Design of this Knowledge Base.

Recommended Citation Format for Web Materials: American Psychological Association Publication Manual Section, Revised 2001.

Work on the Knowledge Base and the cross-cutting evaluation was supported in part by Grant Number 5 U90 HA 00030-05 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau's (HAB) Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS). The contents of this Knowledge Base are solely the responsibility of The Measurement Group and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HRSA/HAB's Special Projects of National Significance nor may they represent the positions of the individual grantees whose projects are included in the cross-cutting evaluation.