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RETRACTED ARTICLE: Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Argentina: reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of a Spanish version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life questionnaire

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This article was retracted on 25 October 2013

Abstract

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) questionnaire is the first needs-based instrument specifically designed to measure quality of life (QoL) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aims of our study were to develop an Argentinean version of the RAQoL and to determine its reproducibility, validity, and sensitivity to change in patients with RA. Translation process was performed according to internationally accepted methodology. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were calculated. Criterion and construct validity were assessed by comparing the RAQoL with parameters of disease activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item health survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Sensitivity to change was measured at 6–12 months using standardized response mean (SRM). The minimal important change was defined as a change of 1 or 1.96 times the standard error of measurement. A total of 97 patients with RA were included. Cronbach’s α was 0.93, and test–retest reliability was 0.95. The RAQoL showed moderate to strong correlation with parameters of disease activity, the HAQ, and the SF-36. Functional status was the main determinant of patients’ level of QoL. The SRM of the RAQoL was 0.24. Agreement between 20 % improvement in RAQoL and ACR20 response was moderate. Minimal important change was 2.2 (1 SEM) or 4.3 (1.96 SEM). The Argentinean version of the RAQoL is the first Spanish translation of this questionnaire. Our findings show it to be valid, reliable, and sensitive to changes in RA clinical status.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Wyeth-Pfizer, Argentina.

Disclosure

Christian A. Waimann has received honoraria from Wyeth-Pfizer, Argentina for this work. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Rehabilitación Psicofísica (IREP) de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Christian A. Waimann, Fernando M. Dal Pra, Maria F. Marengo, Emilce E. Schneeberger, Susana Gagliardi, Jose A. Maldonado Cocco, Mónica Sanchez, Mariana Salcedo & Gustavo Citera

  2. Hospital General de Agudos “Dr. E. Tornú”, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    A. Garone, Rafael E. Chaparro del Moral, Oscar L. Rillo & Mariana Salcedo

  3. Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Javier E. Rosa, F. Ceballos & Enrique R. Soriano

  4. Chief Section of Rheumatology, IREP, Echeverría 955, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Gustavo Citera

Authors
  1. Christian A. Waimann
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  2. Fernando M. Dal Pra
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  3. Maria F. Marengo
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  4. Emilce E. Schneeberger
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  6. Jose A. Maldonado Cocco
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  7. Mónica Sanchez
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  9. Rafael E. Chaparro del Moral
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  14. Enrique R. Soriano
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  15. Gustavo Citera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gustavo Citera.

Additional information

The Editor has retracted this article due to infringement of copyright. Researchers wishing to use the official RAQoL Spanish translation are requested to contact Galen Research (http://www.galenresearch.com).

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10067-013-2397-x.

Electronic supplementary material

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Appendix

Final 30 items of the Argentinean version of the RAQoL:

  1. 1.

    Tengo que acostarme más temprano de lo que me gustaría hacerlo.

  2. 2.

    Me da miedo que la gente me lleve por delante o me golpee.

  3. 3.

    Me resulta difícil encontrar calzado cómodo y que me guste.

  4. 4.

    Evito ir a lugares con mucha gente por mi enfermedad.

  5. 5.

    Tengo dificultades para vestirme.

  6. 6.

    Me resulta difícil ir caminando a hacer compras.

  7. 7.

    Las tareas de la casa me llevan más tiempo para realizarlas.

  8. 8.

    A veces tengo dificultades para usar el inodoro.

  9. 9.

    Frecuentemente me siento frustrada/o.

  10. 10.

    Tengo que dejar de hacer lo que estoy haciendo para descansar un rato.

  11. 11.

    Tengo dificultades para usar el cuchillo y el tenedor.

  12. 12.

    Me resulta difícil concentrarme.

  13. 13.

    Algunas veces quiero estar a solas.

  14. 14.

    Me resulta difícil caminar grandes distancias.

  15. 15.

    Trato de evitar darle la mano a la gente.

  16. 16.

    Frecuentemente me siento deprimida/o.

  17. 17.

    Me siento incapaz de compartir actividades con mis familiares o amigos.

  18. 18.

    Tengo dificultades para bañarme.

  19. 19.

    A veces lloro debido a mi enfermedad.

  20. 20.

    Mi enfermedad me limita para ir a ciertos lugares.

  21. 21.

    Me siento cansada/o, haga lo que haga.

  22. 22.

    Siento que dependo de los demás.

  23. 23.

    Constantemente pienso en mi enfermedad.

  24. 24.

    Frecuentemente me enojo conmigo misma/o.

  25. 25.

    Para mí es demasiado esfuerzo salir y encontrarme con gente.

  26. 26.

    Duermo muy mal durante la noche.

  27. 27.

    Me resulta difícil atender a la gente que me rodea.

  28. 28.

    Siento que no puedo controlar mi enfermedad.

  29. 29.

    Evito el contacto físico con otras personas.

  30. 30.

    No puedo usar toda la ropa que me gustaría.

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Waimann, C.A., Dal Pra, F.M., Marengo, M.F. et al. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Argentina: reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of a Spanish version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life questionnaire. Clin Rheumatol 31, 1065–1071 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-1976-6

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