Table 39: Tools to assess the quality of life or symptom burden in patients with heart failure (HF)
| Tool Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Disease-specific patient QOL | |
| Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) | 21 item, Likert scale, self-administered, overall rating, physical and emotional |
| Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) | 23 item, Likert scale, self-administered, physical function, symptoms social function, self-efficacy and quality of life |
| Generic QOL tools: patient and caregiver | |
| Short Form 12 (SF12) | 12 items with 7 domains (physical function, role emotion, bodily pain, general health, social function, mental health, vitality); Self-administered, Likert scale response format. |
| Short Form36 (SF36) | 36 items with 8 scales in physical and mental health |
| Euro QOL (EQ-5D) and Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) | EQ 5D- 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). 3 Level (EQ-5D-3L) or 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) Likert scale response format available, self-administered. EQ-VAS- 20 cm scale from best health to worst health you can imagine- indicate how you feel today. |
| Symptom Burden – Patient | |
| Edmonton Symptom assessment scale (ESAS) | 10 items, 10 point scale, somatic (6) and psychological symptoms (3), other (1); developed for cancer |
| interRAI instruments | Standardized comprehensive assessments widely implemented across Canada in home care, long-term care, as well as other sectors. |
| Disease-specific and Generic Caregiver burden | |
| Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) | Generic, 24 items, multidimensional tool, positive and negative caregiver reactions. 5 dimensions ( schedule, financial, family, health, self-esteem) |
| Dutch Objective Burden Inventory (DOBI) | Disease specific. Multi-dimensional (personal care, practical care, motivational support, emotional support) |
| Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) | Generic, 15 item, self-administered, difficulty and demand summary scores |
| Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) | Generic, unidimensional tool, 22 items |
Disclaimer: This table is not intended to be an exhaustive list of such instruments, but identifies those most used and evaluated in the context of heart failure.
EQ-5D, Euro QOL 5 dimensions;