T. I. Ionova, T. P. Nikitina, K. A. Kurbatova

Validation of the Russian version of the questionnaire for assessing patient's experience of hypoglycemia – Hypoglycemia perspectives questionnaire (with event frequency items)

The goal of this study was to assess the psychometric properties, informational content and applicability of the Russian version of the Hypoglycemia Perspectives Questionnaire (HPQ). A total of two hundred patients with Type 2 diabetes receiving oral hypoglycemic therapy were enrolled in the study.

The "known-group" comparison method has shown that hypoglycemia-related problems were more severe in the group of patients who suffered from hypoglycemia events (compared to those who did not); the HPQ parameters within all the scales were significantly worse in patients who reported severe hypoglycemia events (in comparison with patients with mild hypoglycemia episodes). There was a correlation between the scales of HPQ and SF-36 questionnaires: the higher were the SF-36 results, the worse were the HPQ outcomes.

The HPQ showed good internal consistency reliability (Chronbach's alpha coefficient for 5 multiple-item scales was >0.9). The test-retest reliability was measured separately in the group of patients without hypoglycemia events (the correlation coefficient was 0,53–0,87 for 5 scales). Sensitivity to changes was examined by establishing the correlation between two HPQ scores collected at two different points- at the beginning of the study and in 2-3 months).

There was statistically important difference in the scores of 4 scales, thus, the HPQ can be considered enough sensitive to changes during treatment. The Russian version of the HPQ is recommended for the assessment of patient's experience of hypoglycemia.