The validity, reliability, and responsiveness of a new biopscyhosocial questionnaire for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: In recent years, the importance of holistic care in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been emphasized, and therefore a measurement tool that evaluates biopsychosocial impact is needed. This study was conducted to determine the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire (BETY-BQ) in individuals with SLE. Methods: Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used for the validity. For reliability, evaluations were repeated at 1 -week intervals and for responsiveness, the same scales were re-administered at 3-month intervals to 30 patients. Results: BETY-BQ showed moderate to high correlations with LupusQoL subparameters (rho = -0.522 to -0.718, p < 0.001), moderate to very high correlations with SF-36 subparameters (r = -0.826 to rho = 0.594, p < 0.001), high correlations with HAQ and HADS-D (rho = 0.735, p < 0.001; rho = 0.622, p < 0.001, respectively) and a moderate correlation with HADS-A (rho = 0.571, p < 0.001). In the test-retest method the correlation between the responses was very high (r = 0.989, p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient (r = 0.944, p < 0.001) and Cronbach's alpha value were found to be excellent (0.952). BETY-BQ showed moderate correlations with LupusQoL subparameters (the body image r = -0.443, p = 0.014; planning rho = -0.529, p = 0.003; fatigue r = -0.484, p = 0.007; intimate relationships rho = -0.421, p = 0.02), SF-36 social function subparameter (rho = -0.427, p = 0.019) and anxiety and depression subparameter of HADS (rho = 0.418, p = 0.021; r = 0.507, p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: BETY-BQ which was found as a valid, reliable, and responsive scale in individuals with SLE, was presented to healthcare professionals for use in clinical and research studies as a scale that can be preferred in the evaluation of biopsychosocial status of individuals with SLE.