The Patient Distress Scale questionnaire: Factor structure and internal consistency

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Primary objective: This study examined the factor structure and internal consistency of the Patient Distress Scale (PDS). The PDS is an 11-item questionnaire that was developed to assess acute neurological patients' awareness of emotional disturbances during early rehabilitation. Research design: A retrospective cohort of patients seen for inpatient rehabilitation following brain injury. Procedures: The PDS was administered to patients and family members upon admission to the neurorehabilitation unit as part of their neuropsychological evaluation. Outcomes and results: Subjects were heterogeneous sample of acute neurological inpatients (n = 84) and their relatives (n = 64). A principle components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded a three factor solution, which together accounted for 62% of the variance. The factor solution provided partial support for the initial structure of the PDS. Analyses revealed relatively strong reliability coefficients for patients (r = 0.82) and relatives (r = 0.86) on the PDS total score. Acceptable reliability coefficients were also found for patients and relatives on each of the factor scores. Conclusions: Preliminary findings support the utility of the PDS as a measure of awareness in acute neurological patients.

Publication Date

7-1-2003

Publication Title

Brain Injury

ISSN

02699052

Volume

17

Issue

7

First Page

545

Last Page

551

PubMed ID

12775267

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/0269905031000070206

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