Development and Validation of a Health Status Scale for Korean Hypothyroid Patients

Objectives: The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism are nonspecific. The present study was aimed to develop a health status scale for Korean hypothyroid patients and evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods/Statistical Analysis: It was designed as a methodological study with a sample of 171 hypothyroid patients at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. Data analysis was conducted using item analysis, Cronbach’s α, correspondence analysis, test-retest reliability, and confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: To ensure construct validity, only those items with corrected item-total correlations higher than .30 in item analysis were selected. Cronbach’s α ranged from .74 to .85, and intra-class correlation coefficients, from .40 to .85. Correspondence analysis revealed no significant differences (t = .43, p = .67) between the average values of the first (2.46 ± 0.49, δ ± SD) and the second (2.42 ± 0.63) measurement. To ensure convergent validity, only those items with factor loadings .4 or higher were selected in confirmatory factor analysis; construct reliability was .93, and average variance extracted, .54. Finally, 30 items in 6 categories were selected. Application/ Improvements: This scale is very useful for individual assessment of thyroid failure and treatment monitoring. It was categorized according to body are. Thus, it can simultaneously assess health status of hypothyroid patients and identify specific challenges that need to be addressed by nursing staff.