Responsiveness of the CCVUQ-Br quality of life questionnaire in chronic venous ulcer patients

BACKGROUND: Responsiveness is a measure of an instrument’s ability to reflect in its score the variability that has occurred in a patient’s life as a result of an intervention. The CCVUQ-Br has been validated in Portuguese, but its responsiveness still needs to be tested. When this study has been completed, the CCVUQ-Br will be available for use as an instrument capable of detecting and reflecting in its score the changes that take place in the quality of life of people with venous ulcers. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the responsiveness of the CCVUQ-Br. METHODS: A longitudinal intervention study was conducted at public and private centers for patients with venous ulcers. The sample comprised people with chronic venous ulcers due to start treatment and the variables analyzed were CCVUQ-Br score and its domain scores, a pain visual analog scale (pain VAS), and the Global Assessment of Change Scale, in addition to CEAP classification, and size of ulcer. The CCVUQ-Br was administered to 51 people about to start treatment who were recruited at random. The CCVUQ-Br was then re-administered 4 weeks after treatment had started. RESULTS: Mean CCVUQ-Br scores reduced from the first to the second administration. The highest mean score at baseline was for the Emotional Status domain, at 63.45, which dropped to 52.00 after 4 weeks. There were also correlations between changes in CCVUQ-Br scores and pain VAS ratings and CEAP class. With regard to the effect size, total CCVUQ-Br score and ulcer size exhibited high sensitivity, while pain VAS and the majority of the CCVUQ-Br domains had moderate sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The CCVUQ-Br questionnaire is sensitive in the Brazilian population and exhibited response to change in the sample tested.