Validity of the Nijmegen Questionnaire for Hyperventilation Syndrome
type: CreativeWork
description: The Nijmegen Questionnaire is an outcome measure used by health professionals for the assessment of symptoms associated with hyperventilation syndrome in the clinical setting and other areas of health research. However, a review of existing literature suggests evidence on the psychometric properties of the questionnaire is limited. Further, in some instances, the methods used in the investigation of these properties are questionable. The aim of this study was to investigate two specific psychometric properties of the Nijmegen Questionnaire: content validity and internal construct validity. Based on the principles of outcome measure development and testing, Qualitative Descriptive Methodology and Rasch analysis were employed. To assess content validity, data from six patients with hyperventilation syndrome and four health professionals with relevant clinical experience were collected using semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analysed using conventional content analysis to identify symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome, and organised into categories and sub-categories. Data were then mapped against current items of the Nijmegen Questionnaire. In addition, data from 239 questionnaires were collected and analysed using Rasch analysis to establish the internal construct validity of the Nijmegen Questionnaire. Results indicated that perceived symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome divided into three categories: breathing symptoms, psychological symptoms, and physical symptoms. Each category had various sub-categories, which included symptoms that were conceptually congruent with each other. There was only one questionnaire item that did not map onto symptoms identified by participants. However, there were noted differences in symptom reporting and language used between data and the existing questionnaire items. Likewise there were differences between patients and health professional reports. Rasch analysis showed the current Nijmegen Questionnaire did not fit t…
abstract: The Nijmegen Questionnaire is an outcome measure used by health professionals for the assessment of symptoms associated with hyperventilation syndrome in the clinical setting and other areas of health research. However, a review of existing literature suggests evidence on the psychometric properties of the questionnaire is limited. Further, in some instances, the methods used in the investigation of these properties are questionable. The aim of this study was to investigate two specific psychometric properties of the Nijmegen Questionnaire: content validity and internal construct validity. Based on the principles of outcome measure development and testing, Qualitative Descriptive Methodology and Rasch analysis were employed. To assess content validity, data from six patients with hyperventilation syndrome and four health professionals with relevant clinical experience were collected using semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analysed using conventional content analysis to identify symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome, and organised into categories and sub-categories. Data were then mapped against current items of the Nijmegen Questionnaire. In addition, data from 239 questionnaires were collected and analysed using Rasch analysis to establish the internal construct validity of the Nijmegen Questionnaire. Results indicated that perceived symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome divided into three categories: breathing symptoms, psychological symptoms, and physical symptoms. Each category had various sub-categories, which included symptoms that were conceptually congruent with each other. There was only one questionnaire item that did not map onto symptoms identified by participants. However, there were noted differences in symptom reporting and language used between data and the existing questionnaire items. Likewise there were differences between patients and health professional reports. Rasch analysis showed the current Nijmegen Questionnaire did not fit t…
author: Li Ogilvie, Yui Man (Vickie)
keywords: Assessment, Hyperventilation, Measurement, Outcome measure, Questionnaire, Validity, Reliability
date published: 2017
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:46:26Z
provider: AUT University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: AUT University